Acoustic telemetry infrastructure for tracking migratory fish species at risk

该提案描述了购买声学遥测设备，以支持新玩法大学Linnansaari研究实验室关于洄游鱼类的重要研究活动。总共将采购50个被动式声接收器和必要的部署和维护部件。由于从淡水到海洋的各种条件要求接收器具有不同的功能，正在购买三种不同的无源接收器;接收器的功能从基本的数据存储功能到蓝牙数据传输和自动“弹出”释放系统。此外，还将购置一个主动跟踪接收器，以便于进行精细的移动和行为研究。 声学跟踪设备将用于支持六个正在进行的、两个开始的和一个计划的遥测项目，其中至少有11名高素质的人员，包括三名第一民族的成员，被培训为水上遥测专家。支持的项目研究三个海运行和一个内陆大西洋鲑鱼种群的迁移生态，两个空间上不同的美国鳗鱼种群，以及短吻鲟鱼，条纹鲈鱼和海运行溪鳟鱼的种群，在2021-25之间的时间范围内。除一个种群外，所有被研究的洄游鱼类种群都已被加拿大濒危野生动物地位委员会考虑列入养护地位清单，或正在严重减少;其中一个被研究的鱼类种群呈指数增长，引起了对其他共存鱼类种群的相互掠夺影响的问题。根据所研究的鱼类种群，声学遥测研究的目的是：i）更好地了解持续下降的原因（例如，死亡率，原因和位置），ii）确定重要的栖息地保护或管理行动，iii）确认当前缓解措施的效率（例如，水力发电背景下鱼道结构的效率）或iv）了解捕食鱼类的种群恢复对栖息在特定河流系统中的其他洄游鱼类种群的影响。 使用拟议设备研究的所有鱼类种群都是具有社会经济重要性的物种，这些物种在历史上吸引了大量的渔业旅游，因此在加拿大大西洋地区产生了经济副产品。了解目前下降的原因或缓解措施的有效性将有助于渔业管理人员更好地保护这些种群，为加拿大的后代。此外，所有这些物种都具有传统和文化重要性，对当地米克马克和沃拉斯托基社区的食物和仪式用途都很重要，他们也积极参与了这项提案的实地研究。

This proposal describes a purchase of acoustic telemetry equipment to support significant research activities on migratory fish species in the Linnansaari research laboratory at the University of New Brunswick. Overall, 50 passive acoustic receivers and necessary deployment and maintenance parts will be acquired. Three different varieties of passive receivers are being purchased because of the range of freshwater to ocean conditions necessitating different features onboard the receivers; the receivers range from basic data storage functions to Bluetooth data transmission and automated “pop-off” release systems. Additionally, an active tracking receiver unit will be acquired to facilitate fine-scale movement and behaviour studies. The acoustic tracking equipment will be used to support six ongoing, two starting, and one planned telemetry projects wherein minimally 11 highly qualified personnel, including three members of First Nations, are trained as aquatic telemetry specialists. The supported projects study the migration ecology of three sea-run and one landlocked Atlantic salmon populations, two spatially distinct American eel populations, and a population of shortnose sturgeon, striped bass, and sea-run brook trout, in a timeframe between 2021-25. All but one of the studied migratory fish populations are already considered for listing with a conservation status by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, or are in severe decline; one of the studied fish populations is exponentially increasing, raising questions of interactive predatory effects on the other co-occurring fish populations. Depending on the studied fish population, the objective of the acoustic telemetry studies is to either i) better understand the causes for the continued decline (e.g., mortality rates, reasons and locations), ii) identify significant habitat areas for conservation or management action, iii) confirm the efficiency of current mitigation measures (e.g., efficiency of fish passage structures in hydropower context) or iv) understand the effect of population recovery of a fish predator on other migratory fish populations inhabiting the specific river system. All fish populations studied by using the proposed equipment are socio-economically important species that have historically attracted significant fishing tourism, and thus, economic spin-off in Atlantic Canada. Understanding the causes of the current declines or effectiveness of mitigation will help fisheries managers better protect these populations for future Canadian generations. In addition, all these species are of traditional and cultural importance and are significant for food and ceremonial purposes for local Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey communities who are also active participants in the field research of this proposal.