Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011 State of fish in a St. Lawrence River under multiple pressures - 2011 Marc Mingelbier.

Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011

State of fish State of fish in a St. Lawrence River in a St. Lawrence River under multiple pressures - 2011under multiple pressures - 2011

Marc Mingelbier Marc Mingelbier et al.et al.Quebec ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, CanadaQuebec ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Canada

MNRWMNRWP. Brodeur, R. Dumas, P. Brodeur, R. Dumas, P. Dumont, D. Hatin, P. Dumont, D. Hatin, Y. Mailhot, Y. Paradis, Y. Mailhot, Y. Paradis, N. VachonN. Vachon

Environment CanadaEnvironment CanadaJ. Morin, S. Martin, O. J. Morin, S. Martin, O. Champoux, S. Giguère Champoux, S. Giguère

ONEMA, FranceONEMA, FranceY. ReyjolY. Reyjol

UniversitiesUniversitiesINRS-ETEINRS-ETEUQACUQACUQTRUQTRU. LavalU. Laval

Non Gov. OrgNon Gov. OrgDUC - CICDUC - CICSABLSABLEtc.Etc.

2 /20Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011

St. Lawrence river at a glanceSt. Lawrence river at a glance

• Large river - rank Large river - rank ~ 20th~ 20th• Length Length 3260 km long 3260 km long Danube, Volga & Danube, Volga & MurrayMurray• Watershed = 1.6 million km2Watershed = 1.6 million km2 ~~ Volga & Volga & MurrayMurray• Annual flow = 13 000 cms Annual flow = 13 000 cms Ganges & Ganges & MississippiMississippi

• ~ ~ 7.5 millions people mainly in the 7.5 millions people mainly in the SL watershed SL watershed

• Connection between GL & AtlanticConnection between GL & Atlantic

• Navigation channel Navigation channel > 250 m width> 250 m width

> 11.3 m depth> 11.3 m depth

• Dams Dams • Disrupt connection GL & AtlanticDisrupt connection GL & Atlantic• Water flow regulationWater flow regulation

• Altitude Altitude 70 m70 m 0 m = rapids 0 m = rapids

• Tide: 3 estuariesTide: 3 estuariesfreshwater E. + middle E. + marine E. freshwater E. + middle E. + marine E.

• High spatial heterogeneity:High spatial heterogeneity:• Lakes vs. narrow sections + archilelagosLakes vs. narrow sections + archilelagos• Major tributaries = Major tributaries = input + water bodies input + water bodies


The St. Lawrence = a multi-rivers system !The St. Lawrence = a multi-rivers system !


117 freshwater fish species in SL : resident + diadromous117 freshwater fish species in SL : resident + diadromous

• Develop applied research Develop applied research to field actions to field actions• ProtectionProtection• RestorationRestoration• ManagementManagement

• Many pressures Many pressures

• Clear degradationsClear degradations

Frédéric Back


Yellow perch collapseYellow perch collapse

• Despite recommendations Despite recommendations since the 1990’ssince the 1990’s

• In 2010, 90% commercial In 2010, 90% commercial fishermen re-purchased fishermen re-purchased their licencestheir licences

Comm. landings (1976-2007)Comm. landings (1976-2007)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Année

Dé

ba

rqu

em

en

ts (

ton

ne

s)

Récoltecommerciale (t)

Récolte sportive (t)

Quota scientif ique commercial (30 t)

Quota scientif iquesportif (10 t)


American eel declineAmerican eel decline

0

20

40

60

80

100

1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002

Année

% d

u m

axim

um

0,0

0,4

0,8

1,2

1,6

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

Cohorte

IFC

A

Individual mean weight for migrating silver eel

1,1

1,3

1,5

1,7

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Year

Me

an

we

igh

t (k

g)

Migration declinein Cornwall

Migration decline in tributaries

Increasing avg mass in fisheries

400 t

<50 t

Generalized fisheries decline (1920-2004)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1920

1924

1928

1932

1936

1940

1944

1948

1952

1956

1960

1964

1968

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004


A river system under pressure !A river system under pressure !

Since 1850: navigation, dredging & damsSince 1850: navigation, dredging & dams

Morin & Côté 2003Morin & Côté 2003


Urban dvpt & agriculture !Urban dvpt & agriculture !

• Since 400 yrs, 80% wetlands lost in Montreal areaSince 400 yrs, 80% wetlands lost in Montreal area

• Eutrophication Eutrophication cyanobacteria cyanobacteria

• Effluents Effluents e.g. fish feminisation (oestrogen) + others e.g. fish feminisation (oestrogen) + others

D

E

L

T


Invasive species: round goby Invasive species: round goby transfert energy + contaminant transfert energy + contaminant

?

??

?

?

ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/


Fish : • Seine every 1 km shore• Gillnet every 1.5 sq. km • Time = every 5-7 years

+ habitat description

Fish monitoring in the SLR since 1995 (community + population)Fish monitoring in the SLR since 1995 (community + population)

Littoral Pelagic Channel

Seine Gillnet

Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)

1. N native species (n= 55)

2. N Catostomidae species (e.g. Catostomus catostomus)

3. N intolerant species (e.g. Hiodon tergisus)

4. % tolerant fish (e.g. Cyprinus carpio)

5. % omnivorous fish (e.g. Carpiodes cyprinus)

6. % insectivorous fish (e.g. Cyprinids; Notropis atherinoides)

7. % piscivorous fish (e.g. Esox lucius)

8. % phytophilous fish (e.g. Fundulus diaphanus)

9. Biomass native fish gillnet, excluding tolerant (e.g. Perca flavescens)

10. DELT (% fish with Deformations, Erosions, Lesions or Tumors)

Species occurrence

Relative abundance

Biomass

Special


Index of Biotic Integrity Index of Biotic Integrity (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

56

60

Grondines-Donnacona

LacSt-Louis

Gentilly-Batiscan

LacSt-François

LacSt-Pierre

22

1

22

6

23

7

274

39

2

38

8

38

3

23

2

28

0

39

6

427

42

1

416

411

40

6

40

1

51

8

494

47

3

46

8

45

9

51

2

21

5

50

6

50

0

46

4

26

7

Archipel dulac St-Pierre

Ind

ice

d'in

tégri

té b

iotiq

ue (

IIB

)

Période 1 (1995 - 1997)Période 2 (2001 - 2006)

Absence de poisson

Moyenne

Faible

Très faible

Bonne

Excellente

RIVE SUD

Canal de rejetGentilly-2

RivièreSaint-Louis

Bank: South

Fragmentation

Industrial sewages

Bank erosion

No fish

Very weak

Weak

Medium

Good

Excellent

Period 1Period 2


Index of Biotic Integrity : Index of Biotic Integrity : decrease between P1 and P2decrease between P1 and P2 (Reyjol et al. in prep)(Reyjol et al. in prep)

128 km

10 km

111 km128 km51%

10 km4%

111 km45%

Period 1 (1995 - 1997)

177 km71%

22 km9%50 km

20%

Period 2 (2001 - 2006)Very weakVery weakWeakWeakMediumMediumGoodGoodExcellentExcellent


Multiple pressures in the SLRMultiple pressures in the SLR

AgricultureAgriculture

Shore degradationShore degradation

HydrologyHydrology

Commercial navigationCommercial navigation

Commercial fisheriesCommercial fisheries

UrbanizationUrbanization


Fish sampling

Habitat description

Pike spawning habitat

Approach: 1. Fish & habitat sampling 2. Modelling and mapping

2D modelling to quantify fish habitat2D modelling to quantify fish habitat

CurrentTemperatureVegetation


2D modelling to quantify fish habitat2D modelling to quantify fish habitat

• Applications:Applications:• Reconstruction of historical seriesReconstruction of historical series• Test the effects of various climate scenarios (i.e. hot-dry vs hot-wet) Test the effects of various climate scenarios (i.e. hot-dry vs hot-wet) • Prepare a new water regulation plan Lake Ontario - SLR system based onPrepare a new water regulation plan Lake Ontario - SLR system based on

• Fish spring spawning habitatFish spring spawning habitat• Fish summer growing habitatFish summer growing habitat

• Protect habitat of endangered species Protect habitat of endangered species



Copper Redhorse - A unique fish !!Copper Redhorse - A unique fish !!

• Occurs nowhere in the world except in Southern QuebecOccurs nowhere in the world except in Southern Quebec

• MoMoxostoma xostoma huhubbsi = bbsi = MOHUMOHU: 1/7 spp. of Moxostoma (Catostomidae): 1/7 spp. of Moxostoma (Catostomidae)

• First species designated endangered in Quebec Province in 1999First species designated endangered in Quebec Province in 1999

Atlas of essential habitats


Success story with lake sturgeon - part 1/2Success story with lake sturgeon - part 1/2

• In 1970’s future was uncertain: overexploitation, small spawning ground, connectivity• Changes:

• New knowledge focused on biology & exploitation• Severe management individuals quotas, control of fishermen and wholesaler• Spawning habitats protected & restored

2011 = sustainable fisheries!! ftp://ftp.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/Public/DEFH/Sfa/ReferencesSL/


Success story with lake sturgeon - part 2/2Success story with lake sturgeon - part 2/2

Riv. des Prairies: spawning site 8000 mRiv. des Prairies: spawning site 8000 m22



ConclusionsConclusions

• State of fishState of fish• Large spectrum of responses due to high natural heterogeneityLarge spectrum of responses due to high natural heterogeneity• Signs of degradations in the SLRSigns of degradations in the SLR

• Fisheries collapsesFisheries collapses• Low IBI valuesLow IBI values• Goby invasionGoby invasion

• Signs of improvementsSigns of improvements• Sustainable population of lake sturgeonSustainable population of lake sturgeon• Stripped bass reintroduction Stripped bass reintroduction signs of success signs of success

• In the futureIn the future• Maintain research applied on managementMaintain research applied on management• Adapt monitoring to new realities (climate, invaders, new pollutants)Adapt monitoring to new realities (climate, invaders, new pollutants)• Refine 2D modelling with additional field data, land use, etc.Refine 2D modelling with additional field data, land use, etc.• Protect connectivityProtect connectivity• Improve water qualityImprove water quality

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !



Mingelbier et al. - St. Lawrence River - Vienna, April 13th 2011 State of fish in a St. Lawrence River under multiple pressures - 2011 Marc Mingelbier.

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