Fisheries

Northern Bioscience has a team of very experienced fisheries biologists who can deliver a wide range of services for riverine, lacustrine, and other aquatic environments. We conduct studies for government agencies and industry as stand-alone projects or as part of larger multi-disciplinary projects (e.g., baseline studies for EAs or effects monitoring).


We can provide the following services, among others:

  • field assessment of fish populations using standard protocols such as:
    • Broad-Scale Monitoring (BSM)
    • Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN)
    • River Index Netting (RIN)
  • use of in-house fisheries equipment such as:
    • Smith-Root LR-24 backpack electrofisher
    • gill nets (BSM, FWIN, RIN, custom)
    • traps nets, drift-nets, seine nets, egg traps, and minnow traps
  • mark/recapture, spawning, and fish movement studies including field surgery with acoustic and radio telemetry (mobile and fixed stations)
  • Species at Risk (SAR) such as Lake Surgeon, including spawning studies, larval drift-netting, and surveys of adults using gill-nets/telemetry
  • monitoring of mercury (Hg) in young-of-the-year (YOY) and adult fish tissue
  • fish salvage e.g., removals during construction
  • fish habitat assessment and mapping
  • impact assessment, avoidance, mitigation, and monitoring
  • fish habitat design and compensation to meet requirements under the federal Fisheries Act
  • technical support for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification of sustainable fisheries
  • extraction, preparation, and ageing of fish structures such otoliths, scales, and fin rays through our associate Jon Tost (North Shore Environmental)
  • statistical analysis and synthesis of recreational and commercial fisheries data
  • preparation/review of fisheries management and rehabilitation plans

Representative Clients

Our clients have included:

  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • Environment Canada
  • Hydroelectric Industry e.g.,
    • McGraw Falls Power
    • Namewaminikan Hydro / Axor Group Inc.
    • Ontario Power Generation
    • Pic Mobert Hydro Inc.
    • Regional Power Inc.
    • The Power Limited Partnership
    • Xeneca Power Development Inc.
  • International Joint Commission (IJC)
  • Municipalities e.g., City of Thunder Bay
  • Mining Industry
    • Citadel Gold Mines Inc.
    • Goldstone Resources (sub to exp Services Inc.)
    • Harte Gold Inc.
    • New Gold / Rainy River Resources (sub to Klohn Crippen Berger)
    • North American Palladium Ltd.
    • Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
    • Premier Gold Mines Ltd. (sub to Stantec Consulting Ltd.)
    • Rubicon Minerals Corp.
    • Stillwater Canada Inc. / Marathon PGM
    • TBT Engineering Ltd.
    • Treasury Metals Inc.
  • Non-governmental Organizations
    • North Shore Steelhead Association
    • Thunder Bay District Stewardship Council
  • Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry