Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: environmental assessment, biology, dolly varden char, fisheries
| Principal Investigator: | Mochnacz, Neil (6) |
| Licence Number: | 17337 |
| Organization: | Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2023
|
| Issued: | Aug 03, 2023 |
| Project Team: | Brennan Romaniuk |
Objective(s): To collect eDNA samples to determine the essential habitat requirements of Dolly Varden and to maintain the temperature monitoring network in Fish Creek.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5657. The main objective of this research is to collect eDNA samples to determine the essential habitat requirements of Dolly Varden and to maintain the temperature monitoring network in Fish Creek. For eDNA collection, two litres of water will be collected in the stream and a portable pump will be used to filter the water. The eDNA is collected on the filter, which is then carefully folded and placed inside a small plastic vial with drying material to preserve it. Temperature logger sites have been maintained in the Fish Creek watershed starting in 2012 using Tidbit temperature data loggers deployed in PVC cases. Crews will navigate to the temperature logger sites, locate the temperature loggers in the streams, download the loggers, and maintain the temperature logger sites by redeploying new loggers with fresh batteries. If new sites of interest are found, a new temperature logger site may be created by attaching a temp logger holder. The eDNA samples and temperature loggers will be sent to Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Winnipeg for analysis and storage. Support from the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB) and the Ehditaat Renewable Resources Council (ERRC) have enabled this and related projects since 2012. The project has been presented at the annual Rat River Working Group meeting since 2019 (not held in 2022). In 2023, results from 2022 fieldwork were emailed to Resource Coordinators in Aklavik and Fort McPherson. Field planning and coordination will occur via email and phone to arrange field crews and hire local support. Results will be presented at the next Rat River Working Group in 2024. Any publications resulting from the work will be sent to the GRRB for distribution and storage. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 21, 2023 to August 28, 2023.
