Support for the development of a draft sediment monitoring program for freshwater cage aquaculture

Description

This project provides partial support for the development of a draft sediment monitoring program for freshwater cage aquaculture for Ontario. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is providing technical assistance and data to support this process, with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Ministry of Environment, and Environment Canada as participants. Sulfide, which is often a key measure with marine monitoring programs, is not a reliable indicator of the accumulation of aquaculture waste in freshwater, and an alternative needs to be identified. The use of a geochemical indicator is preferable to biological monitoring as a means to reduce costs, but must provide a reliable indicator of biological condition. Existing data sets will be examined to identify potential indicators that can be directly linked to aquaculture activities, have low variability to minimize sampling requirements, and have a correlation with changes in biological communities. Data sets will be further analyzed for predictive relationships and to identify potential thresholds to inform and trigger further monitoring or management actions. The monitoring program document is expected to provide methodology and recommended sample sizes.

Findings

N/A

Publications

N/A

Program Name

Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR)

Year(s)

2011 to 2012

Ecoregion(s)

Central Canada: Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Freshwater Drainage Basin

Principal Investigator(s)

Cheryl Podemski
Freshwater Institute - 501 University Cr., Winnipeg, MB
Tel.: (204) 984-1775
Email: Cheryl.Podemski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Team Member(s)

Kristin Hynes, DFO-Central and Arctic Region