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sbeausol
10-17-2007, 10:07 PM
I'd like to hear some input on this idea from some fisheries biologists in Canada.

If you want the real science read this: http://www2.uqtr.ca/GREA/pdf/publi/bernierbourgaultmagnan2002.pdf

In 1987, an artificial habitat was created in Lake St-Michel, Charlevoix (Quebec), Canada, to increase the availability of spawning ground for brook charr (Craig&Dulude1). This habitat consisted of a new outlet connecting to the original one, which is not used by spawning brook charr because it is too steep and flows on bedrock. A 0.5m gravel layer (15-30mm diameter) was deposited over the existing sand and silt substrate, on a section extending 150m from the lake outlet. In 1988 and 1989, 150-200 spawning individuals were seined in a small inlet of Lake St-Michel and transferred to the enhanced site to initiate the use of this site and eventually homing. Since 1990, the site has been actively used by spawning brook charr (D. Craig personal communication). Using a counting fence, Baril&Magnan (2002) estimated the spawning stock to be 745 and 1148 individuals in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

The experiments were conducted from 1997 to 1999 in the outlet of Lake St-Michel, Charlevoix (Quebec), Canada (47◦10N, 71◦02W), at 840m of altitude. Lake St-Michel has a surface area of 220 ha. The length of the managed section is 150 m, its width varies from 4 to 9m, and its depth from 0.20 to 1.5m in summer. Brook charr and pearl dace, Semotilus margarita, are the only known species in Lake St-Michel, but charr is
the only species in the outlet during spawning season (personal observation). Intensive brook charr stocking (fingerlings) was stopped in 1986 and sport fishing is carefully controlled by the resort managing this territory (Gesti-Faune Inc). Lake St-Michel has supported a sport fishing exploitation of 3000 brook charr per year since 1992 without any stocking.

lowwall
10-18-2007, 12:14 PM
The hatching and emergence percentages were significantly
higher in Astro-turfTM than in non-selected substrate
with selected substrate being intermediate

sbeausol
10-18-2007, 01:12 PM
my point being we know what good spawning habitat is, why not create it in the wild? it has clearly worked in this lake in canada....

lowwall
10-18-2007, 01:42 PM
Astro-turfTM , I here ya. There is a ton of info out there. The fact that they perfered astro turf over the real deal was prety interesting.