Juvenile Fish Trapping

Juvenile fish trapping is conducted under license with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Surveys are conducted periodically to monitor the health of young salmon and smaller species like cutthroat trout, which are not otherwise easily viewed. We use small minnow traps to temporarily catch the fish. They are then transferred from the trap into a clear bag to assist with identifying and counting; the work is done quickly to minimize the stress on the young fish. We record the species, numbers of fish trapped, and their sizes. We also collect water to check its quality at the time of the survey.

We follow the the protocols set out in the Streamkeepers’ Handbook.

Identification

Identifying which species of salmonids we have captured is sometimes difficult.  We use the Habitat and Enhancement: Facts and Figures booklet from Fisheries and Oceans and Field Identification of Coastal Junvenile Salmonids, published by Harbour Publishing (1997).

What you can expect to see and hear

Traps are placed in specific areas of Stoney Creek and its tributaries, often in the late afternoon/evening, and they are collected the next day for inspection and recording before the fish are released back into the stream.

Photo Gallery