In recent years, the Margaree Salmon Association in northern Cape Breton has utilized electrofishing as a method to monitor fish populations in the Margaree River. This technique involves using an electric current to temporarily stun fish, allowing crews to safely capture, measure, and identify them before releasing them back into the river.
Michael Fabiano, the conservation co-ordinator of the association, mentioned that electrofishing operations typically run from May to late September, with a minimal two percent mortality rate among the thousands of fish handled each season. Ensuring the safety of the fish is the top priority, and electrofishing is avoided when water temperatures are too high to prevent harm.
To conduct electrofishing safely, crew members regulate current levels to ensure fish are stunned for only a brief period. They wear protective gear such as heavy rubber gloves and chest waders to mitigate the risks of working with electricity in water. Despite working with electricity, there have been no reports of serious incidents involving shocks during Fabiano’s tenure with the group.
The crews conduct surveys along the 120-kilometre river to identify the most productive streams and evaluate the overall health of the fish population. Trout and Atlantic salmon make up approximately 95 percent of the catch, with occasional eels and lampreys also being found.
This season, the association has caught and released around 1,800 fish across nine streams, a decrease from the previous year. Fabiano attributes this decline partly to challenging conditions experienced last year, including low water levels and high temperatures due to a severe drought that significantly impacted the Margaree River.
Paul MacNeil, the association’s president, highlighted the increased focus on scientific research due to reduced data collection by Fisheries and Oceans Canada over the past five years. Established in 1982, the association sought reliable data to monitor river health amid shifting climate patterns.
To address the data gap, the association collaborated with the Chéticamp River Salmon Association to acquire electrofishing equipment. While members also conduct fish counts by swimming in the river, MacNeil emphasized that electrofishing provides more precise data on juvenile fish populations within specific territories.
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