Biigtigong Current - November 2021

ENDING 2021 - A LOOK AT THIS YEAR

To have your pictures submitted to the newsletter, please contact Cassandra Cress, at Cassandra.Cress@picriver.com

UPDATE ON FISHERIES PROJECTS, 2021

S u bm i t t e d b y B r i t t a n y Mo s e s , En v i r o nme n t a l C o o r d i n a t o r & K i e r s t i n Kw i s s i wa , F i e l d T e c h n i c i a n

Lake Sturgeon Monitoring Over the course of 10 days in August 2021, A/OFRC was in the community for the Lake Superior Lake Sturgeon project. A/OFRC in collaboration with BN Sustainable Development were looking to determine the current lake-wide status of juvenile and sub-adult lake sturgeon in Lake Superior. AOFRC and BN SD, set approximately 16 nets at various locations along the shoreline of Lake Superior between the Mouth of the Pic River and the Mouth of the White River in an attempt to catch and tag juvenile and sub-adult Lake Sturgeon. Additional parameters were also collected including total length, fork length, girth, and weight for each successful tag. Genetics samples were collected, along with pectoral rays used for aging on fish under 100 cm. We are currently awaiting the summary report for the project, which will be presented to community in the new year. Muskellunge In early 2021, BN SD was successful in obtaining funding to support a Muskellunge fisheries project on the Pic River water system. This project includes locating Muskellunge and tagging them to allow us to track their movement during open water season with the hope of identifying spawning habitat. Once more is known about the location and habitat of the species, BN can determine if further protection measures are needed to protect the future of the Pic River population and their spawning habitat. Continuing throughout the 2021-2022 season, TEK story collection will continue to complement the on the ground technical data that is collected.

In addition to continuing to tag Muskellunge, the 2022 field season will also involve Muskellunge habitat mapping on the Pic River and the Little Black River using a high-tech drone. We will also be deploying acoustic telemetry receivers in the Pic, Black and Little Black rivers, along with the Pic River Mouth and Hattie Cove to physically track Muskellunge movement. A community consultation event will be scheduled for January/February 2022 to discuss the project in further details.

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