Control and inventory of invasive Smallmouth bass | |
|
Year
|
 |
2009 |
|
Proponent
|
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Ministry of Environment - Environmental Stewardship Division |
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Project type
|
|
Habitat |
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FSWP funding source
|
|
DFO Fraser Basin Initiative |
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Grant amount
|
|
$25,000 |
|
Total project value
|
|
$182,966 |
|
ID number
|
|
09-D84-H |
Location:
Upper Fraser
Project Summary
Overview
Smallmouth bass were illegally introduced to the Beaver Creek system and currently occupy 55 km of the system, from its confluence with the Quesnel River upstream through a chain of 6 lakes. Bass are an efficient predator of other fish and can cause severe impacts on native aquatic communities. It is likely that bass will disperse from the system and will be illegally introduced to other systems. There are serious implications should the species become widely established in the Cariboo, considering the high value of recreational fisheries and the important First Nations, sport and commercial salmon stocks.
The primary goal of MOE is to eradicate the bass population. A recent evaluation indicated that chemical treatment of the system is achievable but would cost $5 million. Ministry Executive and DFO have been informed of this cost; however, a decision is not expected soon. In the meantime, MOE, DFO and the NSTC will continue to control/contain Beaver Creek bass by applying to funding partners.
The objective of this project is to minimize the effect of bass on native fish in Beaver Creek and to prevent range expansion. In addition, other waterbodies in the Region, at high risk for illegal introductions, will also be surveyed.
Objectives
1. Track distribution and abundance of smallmouth bass in Beaver Creek system by monitoring the population throughout known range and in areas where they may have spread to.
2. Reduce immature bass numbers by electrofishing, netting, angling, etc. Minimize recruitment by destroying nests and removing bass larva/fry.
3. Assess rate of spread of smallmouth bass from Beaver Creek to the Quesnel River and remove as many outmigrants as possible.
4. Promote early detection of invasives in order to enable effective rapid response efforts by exploratory surveillance of tributaries to the Quesnel River and other waterbodies in the Cariboo Region
Methods
Objective #1. Track distribution and abundance of smallmouth bass in Beaver Creek by monitoring bass population throughout known range and in areas where bass may have spread to. This will be done in conjunction with Objective #2 since in most cases the bass will be destroyed when captured.
Methods that will be used for this component of the project include:
-gill net surveys to compare catch rates of bass and native species with previous years
-trap nets to catch bass moving along near-shore areas < 2 m in depth
-angling
-from late May to mid-July conduct surveys by having snorkel divers swim the near-shore areas of all lakes to locate bass nests
-obtain information on nest then destroy nest and eggs; if larva are present remove using specialized nets or quatrefoil (light) traps
-using shocker boat, collect immature bass (preferably less than 200 mm) from littoral areas; May to October
Objective #3. The lower reaches of Beaver Creek and the Quesnel River will be surveyed using the electrofisher boat, or back pack electrofishers where necessary
-the electrofisher boat will be used at least once a week in the Quesnel River during periods of suitable flows (May, September-October) to increase the chance of encountering bass that have left Beaver Creek
-angling, seine netting, gill netting will be used in suitable conditions in the mouth area of Beaver Creek
Objective #4 Crews will employ methods outlined above to check out all tributaries of the Beaver Creek system from June to September. Reports of new introductions of invasive fish in the Region will be investigated. Depending on the type of waterbody, sampling techniques will include electrofishing, gill and seine nets, minnow traps, angling and visual observations. Random sampling of lakes that are high risk for introduction (i.e. near known populations of invasive fish) will also be surveyed
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rack distribution and abundance of smallmouth bass in Beaver Creek by monitoring bass population throughout known range and in areas where bass may have spread to. This will be done in conjunction with Objective #2 since in most cases the bass will be destroyed when captured.
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