Locating rainbow smelt spawning grounds on the Magdalen Islands in the context of fisheries management and wildlife habitat protection

Commercial and recreational fishing for rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) takes place off the Magdalen Islands in autumn and winter.

Our project aims to identify the provenance of smelt caught by inshore fisheries (both commercial and recreational), in particular identifying whether these fish originate from local recruitment in Magdalen Islands streams, from external spawning areas (e.g., along the Gaspé coast) or a mixture of both. To answer this question, we will analyze and compare the chemical signature of otoliths from adult rainbow smelt specimens collected by fishing with the otolith chemical signature of larvae collected in streams during downstream migration.

An analysis of habitat quality will also be carried out to determine the most productive and suitable streams for rainbow smelt spawning. This information is crucial for habitat conservation and restoration purposes because most creeks on the islands are heavily affected by human activities (e.g., cattle ranching, development, agriculture).

This project is being undertaken in collaboration with Antoine Richard of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs.