NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: physical sciences, fish habitat, fisheries assessment, water monitoring

Objective(s): To determine what fish species are present in the Arctic Red River Headwaters, and what areas in the Arctic Red River Headwaters are important fish habitats.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to determine what fish species are present in the Arctic Red River Headwaters (AARH), and what areas in the Arctic Red River Headwaters are important fish habitats. The intent is to use varying fisheries assessment techniques (angling, electofishing and gillnetting) to assess various suitable habitats in the ARRH for the presence of fish. Sites will be identified with the help of the local hunting outfitter. Several discussions with the Gwichya Renewable Resource Committee (RRC) indicate that very little Knowledge on the ARRH is available to guide planning of this research. Voucher specimens of each species encountered will be dead sampled for ID verification and biological / life history analysis, up to a maximum of 50 per species. A weather station will also be installed at the outfitter camp to establish baseline information on weather conditions. Temperature monitoring loggers will also be placed in verified Dolly Varden or overwintering habitat. This project has been requested by the community of Tsiigehtchic and a high priority for the Gwich'in Land Use Planning Board for several years. The research team have involved Tsiigehtchic extensively in planning the research and local community member to help as a technician on the project. Results will be presented at monthly RRC meetings immediately following the field season, at the October Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board meeting, at the Regional RRC meeting in January and at any other local opportunities which may arise. Published materials will be available in the future. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 15, 2015 to September 30, 2015.