Spatial and long-term trends in persistent organic contaminants and metals in lake trout and burbot from the Northwest Territories
Principal Investigator: Evans, Marlene S. (54)
Licence Number: 15768
Organization: Environment Canada
Licensed Year(s): 2023 2022 2017 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Issued: Oct 14, 2015
Project Team: Derek Muir, Peter Unger, Rosy Bjornson, Shawn Buckley, Peter Redvers

Objective(s): To continue to investigate whether contaminant levels are changing in fish in the Northwest Territories with a focus on Great Slave Lake.

Project Description: This study is continuing to investigate whether contaminant levels are changing in fish in the Northwest Territories with a focus on Great Slave Lake which the research team have been studying since the early 1990s. The research team plan to collect lake trout from Great Slave Lake (Hay River area and Lutsel K’e area). The team also plan to collect burbot from the Lutsel K’e and Fort Resolution areas of Great Slave Lake, and northern pike from the Fort Resolution area of Great Slave Lake. Samples to be taken: - 20 burbot and 20 northern pike will be collected from the West Basin of Great Slave Lake (near Slave River) by community members from Fort Resolution during their normal subsistence fishing activities (gill net or angling). - 20 lake trout will be collected from the West Basin of Great Slave Lake by the Hay River commercial fishery (gill net). - 20 lake trout and 20 burbot will be collected from the East Arm of Great Slave Lake by community members from Lutsel K’e during their normal subsistence fishing activities (gill net or angling). Community members (chosen by the local RRC) will be collecting fish for this study. Communities will be kept informed of the progress of the study. M. Evans may visit the communities to discuss the study and present results from previous years. Research results will be disseminated through reports and possible community visits. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from October 14, 2015 to December 31, 2015.