Fish Salvage and Mussel Relocation
Biotactic regularly conducts fish rescue and relocation operations (salvage) within municipal drains, rivers, ponds and lakes for in-water infrastructure works (e.g., culvert replacement, de-watering, dredging) and development projects, and can also perform effective invasive species removals (e.g., goldfish). Fish can be collected using boat and backpack electrofishing, as well as various types of netting, dependent on project needs. Rescues are performed quickly and efficiently so that client projects can continue with minimal disruption or delay.
Staff at Biotactic have several years of experience relocating freshwater mussels in accordance with the Species at Risk Act, following Department of Fisheries and Oceans standard protocols and methodology.
Example fish rescue projects include:
- Bridge construction- Hesselink Drain, Speed River, White Oaks Tributary, Woodisse Drain
- Channel re-alignment- 15 Mile Creek Tributary, Hanna Drain, Middle Thames River
- Culvert replacement- D'Aubigny Creek (x3), Salmon River, Tannery Creek
- Fishway Decommissioning- Saugeen River
- Low-level radiation remediation- Inner harbour Lake Ontario- Port Hope Area Initiative
- Pond or channel overprinting- Grand Niagara Golf Course, Shapton Drain, Whitby Unnamed Pond, White Oaks Drain
Rescue of fish within the inner harbour of Lake Ontario in Port Hope prior to dredging
Rescue of fish trapped in small pool downstream of a newly unconnected fishway
Fish rescue operations, Canadian Niagara Power Station, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Fish salvage from a pond prior to dewatering and overprinting for the construction of a housing development in Niagara Falls, Ontario
1m transects established to search for SAR Rainbow Mussels relocated due to bridge construction
Tagged mussel relocated during 1-year post-relocation sampling required as per DFO protocols
