Moving the weakest links upstream: assessing passage of rainbow smelt and alewife at two Prince Edward Island fishways

Dams can be problematic for fishes, particularly those that migrate. In order to help fish move around dams, fisheries managers may construct fishways (aka âfish laddersâ). However, these structures do not always function properly, often because they were built only to pass trout and salmon and are thus inappropriate for other species. This project aims to assess the ability of migratory rainbow smelt to use a newly constructed, âfish friendlyâ fishway at MacLeanâs Pond on the Vernon River, PEI. We will also assess alewife passage (sometimes called âgaspereauâ) at a fish ladder on Officerâs Pond, Winter River, PEI.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael van den Heuvel

Student:

Sean Landsman

Partner:

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Natural resources

University:

Program: