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CA — Science Advisory Report 2011/071: Binational ecological risk assessment of the bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) for the Great Lakes basin

July 13, 2012 Comments off

Science Advisory Report 2011/071: Binational ecological risk assessment of the bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) for the Great Lakes basin

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Summary

  • The most likely entry point into the Great Lakes basin is the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) into Lake Michigan. The effectiveness of the electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) was not evaluated. Nevertheless, the complex nature of the CAWS and proximity of bigheaded carp populations led to the conclusion this is the most likely entry point.
  • Once bigheaded carps have gained entry into the basin, they are expected to spread to other lakes within 20 years. The spread will be more rapid for lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie, and potentially Lake Superior; longer for Lake Ontario.
  • Bigheaded carps would find suitable food, and thermal and spawning habitats in the Great Lakes basin that would allow them to survive and become established. The areas that would be attractive and favorable are Lake Erie, including Lake St. Clair, and high productivity embayments of lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Ontario.
  • There is a greater than 50% probability of successful mating each year with very few (< 10) adult females (and a similar number of adult males) within the basin of a Great Lake.
  • Population growth is most sensitive to the survivorship of juveniles.
  • The consequences of an established bigheaded carp population are expected to include changes in planktonic communities, reduction in planktivore biomass, reduced recruitment of fishes with early pelagic life stages, and reduced stocks of piscivores.
  • To reduce the probability of introduction (either at the arrival, survival, establishment or spread stage), and delay or reduce subsequent ecological consequences, immediate prevention activities would be most effective, especially in conjunction with population management activities at the invasion front.

Aquaculture in Canada, Facts And Figures

March 21, 2011 Comments off

Aquaculture in Canada, Facts And Figures
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
This is a color brochure. From Part I (PDF):

  • Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production activity in the world (UN FAO)

  • Aquaculture produces about 50% of global aquatic food production
  • Canada ranks 26th in world aquaculture in terms of production and 20th in terms of the value of the production
  • Canada is the 4th largest salmon producing country after Norway, Chile, and the UK
  • Canadian aquaculture accounts for 14% of total seafood production (volume) and 35% of its value
  • Canadian production has increased four-fold in the past 20 years
  • The total economic or gross value generated by aquaculture is $2.1 billion

  • The aquaculture industry generates over $1.0 billion in GDP
  • The aquaculture industry provides 14,500 full-time jobs
  • The aquaculture industry provides just over half a billion dollars in labour income

+ Part 2 (PDF)

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