Investigation of temporal patterns in fish presence and abundance at intertidal weirs in Minas Passage and Minas Basin

The Bay of Fundy is recognized as an area of high ecological importance and is home to a diverse fish assemblage. FORCE, Canada’s leading test centre for tidal energy research and development, is currently assessing the potential for tidal energy development in the Upper Bay of Fundy’s Minas Passage. Since 2009, FORCE’s Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program has included a variety of strategies to better understand fish use of the turbine test area. It has been proposed that commercial intertidal weirs along the shores of the Minas Passage and Basin be used to help address identified information gaps within the EEM program, in particular the seasonal abundance and movements of fishes in and near the Minas Passage. A cooperative monitoring and research project with selected commercial weir fishers will be conducted to collect pre-turbine baseline data on the presence and abundance of resident and migratory, commercial and noncommercial fishes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Anna Redden

Student:

Partner:

Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy;Darren Porter;Fisheries and Oceans Canada - NB

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Acadia University

Program: