A Lake of the Woods First Nations organization has received $80,000 in funding from the provincial government to conduct a study to explore the potential of live-capture nets in the commercial fishery.
The Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotwangag Resource Council (AKRC) in Sioux Narrows acquired the funding from the Ontario “Living Legacy” Trust, as well as further technical and financial support from the Ministry of Natural Resources office in Kenora.
The study began in early May and will continue until the end of September on Lake of the Woods.
AKRC fisheries co-ordinator Ryan Haines said the idea came about as the result of a brainstorming session among commercial fishers who are seeking ways to improve the fishery.
“At present, commercial fishers are doing an excellent job of preventing incidental mortality, but there is always room for improvement,” said Haines.
Unlike conventional gill nets, which indiscriminately hold and kill whatever is caught in them, live-capture nets—such as trap nets or fyke nets—keep fish alive after they are captured.
This allows the fishers to selectively harvest the fish in a manner that is ecologically and economically beneficial to the fishery.
The concept is not entirely new. The MNR has been using it on a small scale for some time, but this initiative is the first example of it being tried on a commercial scale.
For the time being, the AKRC merely will be netting fish for the purpose of collecting biological samples, but Haines said the preliminary results look promising.
“So far, we’re looking at incredibly high survival rates,” he noted. “After this season, we’ll take a look at extending it to the commercial operations.”
The system consists of a small-mesh net that has an extension that leads to shore. The fish encounter the net and, in trying to find a way around it, are guided towards a funnel that leads into a box.
From there, the fish can be selectively removed and harvested, or released.
The study consists of two crews of fisheries technicians who are based in the Nestor Falls and Morson areas. They are setting the nets daily and collecting information on the fish captured.
This information will be used to determine if the system is feasible as an alternative to gill nets.
The information gathered will be compiled in the AKRC’s fisheries database, along with information collected in their commercial harvest sampling program.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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