Some crews from Fisheries and Oceans Canada were in Wallaceburg last week searching for an invasive species.
However, the findings did not result in any Asian Carp found in the Sydenham River waters.
Hilary Prince, a communications advisor for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said a team was in the area on Thursday, August 20.
“Crews were on the Sydenham River doing sampling for the Asian Carp Program,” Prince said. “The Asian Carp Program conducts regular sampling at several locations throughout the province to look for evidence of Asian Carp species in Canadian waters.”
Kevin Hill, the assistant regional director of communications for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said the sampling did not result in any carp found.
“We were in Wallaceburg and Sydenham (and it) was the result of risk assessments performed by the department,” Hill said. “No carp were found… but we continue to monitor likely pathways that would be suitable habitat for these species.”
During sampling Prince said crews use trammel nets and electrofishing boats to catch as many fish as possible within a river system.
“Electrofishing vessels send out a charge temporarily stunning any fish in the water and allowing crews to scoop up fish which may look like an Asian Carp,” she said. “These fish are then further identified and any native fish are returned to the water unharmed.”
There are four species of Asian Carps: Silver Carp (the jumping fish), Bighead Carp, Grass Carp (the species caught in Canada recently) and Black Carp.
“To date there have been five live Grass Carp caught in Canadian waters since the program began in 2012,” Prince said. “Of those five specimens three were sterile and the remaining two were fertile although there was no evidence that the fish had reproduced. Grass Carp are occasionally stocked in North American locations to control aquatic plants for agricultural purposes. In the Great Lakes basin, several U.S. states allow stocking of Grass Carp if they have been sterilized.”
Prince said importation of aquatic invasive species into Canada is illegal under new Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations of the Fisheries Act.
“While DFO continues to work with U.S. partners to prevent the migration of Asian Carp from southern waters we need Canadians to be vigilant and not release fish into our water systems,” she said. “Aquatic invasive species are among the chief threats to the health of Great Lakes and Fisheries and Oceans Canada takes these threats very seriously. Asian carp species, including Grass Carp, are considered high risk and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively.
Prince said if anyone thinks they have seen an invasive species, they can report it to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
– Fisheries and Oceans Canada File Photo
