Exploring connectivity of nearshore habitats for multiple fish species

WLONA

May 2017 - April 2026

In the western end of Lake Ontario, there are acoustic telemetry projects in Toronto and Hamilton harbours, and the Niagara River. All of these projects involve tagging various species. However, it is unknown whether fish are moving between these nearshore habitats, among others, if populations are mixing, or consistent migrations are occurring. Having an array that covers the nearshore (~20m depth) habitat from Niagara River clockwise to Toronto, can help decipher fish movements and connectivity of these nearshore habitats. This array helps fill in the gaps to improve receiver coverage in Lake Ontario for multiple projects, further increasing our knowledge of fish movements in large lakes.

• The objectives are to determine whether various fish species move between key nearshore habitats in the west end of Lake Ontario, and whether these movements are consistent migrations or contribute towards population mixing. The timing and frequency of movements between nearshore habitats will indicate the importance of the connectivity. We can determine whether some nearshore species are more mobile than others, and if the same species from different areas are similar in their mobility.

• Jon Midwood (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) - jon.midwood@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Sarah Larocque (University Of Windsor - Great Lakes Institute For Environmental Research)
• Silviya Ivanova (University Of Windsor - Great Lakes Institute For Environmental Research)
• Melanie Croft-White (Fisheries And Oceans Canada)