bedford institute of oceanography 2001 in review - Région des ...

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES / Biological SciencesStock assessments, research, and outreachIn addition to rearing fish, the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility yieldsbiological information. In particular, its trapping facility at theMactaquac Dam yields important information for the assessment ofsalmon, alewife, blueback herring, American eel, striped bass, andAtlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Research is also conducted in cooperationwith universities, private industry, and fish and wildlifeorganizations. Investigations have included the viability of triploidsalmonids for aquaculture, vaccine development, and growth andcondition of fish reared at various temperature regimes. Cooperativeprograms with local First Nations contribute to the facility’s operations,including a Visitor Interpretation Center. The Visitor Centerexhibits the operations of the facilities and the life cycle of theAtlantic salmon.Coldbrook and Mersey Biodiversity facilitiesThe Coldbrook and Mersey Biodiversity facilities engage in live genebanking of Atlantic salmon, stocking of salmon in rivers negativelyimpacted by acid precipitation, and research on a variety of salmonand endangered Atlantic whitefish initiatives. These activities replaceprevious enhancement programs.Living gene banksAs was the case at Mactaquac in 1998, a few of the many ponds atColdbrook were dedicated to the first phase of live gene bankingthe endangered Nova Scotia inner Bay of Fundy salmon. In thiscase, wild juvenile salmon from the Stewiacke River are beingreared through to maturity at Coldbrook. Between 0.5 and 1.0million eggs will be hatched and grown at Mersey for release intothe Stewiacke and other inner Bay of Fundy rivers, from whichsalmon have been extirpated. Implicit in our direction for theliving gene banks is a DNA-based prescriptive mating strategy likethat described for Mactaquac.Additionally, progeny of adult salmon of the inner Bay of Fundy’sunique Gaspereau River are reared and returned to the river. Juvenilesfrom several other Nova Scotia inner Bay of Fundy rivers have beencollected for possible inclusion in the inner Bay gene bank program.Intervention in acid-impacted riversAcid precipitation has contributed to serious declines, and in somecases, extirpation, of salmon in over 50 rivers of the Nova ScotiaSouthern Upland. Adult salmon are being collected from severalrivers to supplement smolt production due to losses caused by acidprecipitation. Genetic analysis of many other river stocks is ongoingand in the short term, supplementation with cultured fish and orlive gene banking should avoid complete loss of the unique stocks.Research, First Nations support, and outreachBreeding, rearing, and stocking fish in support of fisheries was theprevious principal activity of federal fish hatcheries in Nova Scotia.Few fisheries now remain and the preservation of stocks and theirgenetic diversity is becoming the goal.Confined to a single watershed in Nova Scotia, the endangeredAtlantic whitefish (Coregonus huntsmani) is being cultured at Merseyto ascertain the influence of environmental variables on its survivaland growth. Ultimately, the goal is to develop technical capability torepatriate the species to its former range.Mersey Biodiversity Facility upper ponds and culture and research buildings.The Mersey and Coldbrook Biodiversity facilities are operatedjointly to meet program objectives. The brood fish for all salmonprograms are held at Coldbrook, where surface and well waterprovide temperature control and flexibility. Rearing of young takesplace at Mersey where the greater water supply permits the productionof up to 300,000 age-1 sea-going smolts, and an equal or greaternumber of age-0 parr for river stocking.Endangered Atlantic whitefish, Coregonus huntsmani.The facilities also support salmon conservation initiatives identifiedby First Nations, welcome tour groups, and offer training forcommunity college students.32 / BIO-2001 IN REVIEW