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Adults
Swim Enumeration
NVISEA employs certified swift water technicians, trained in species identification and river safety. These personnel are contracted to conduct snorkel swim enumerations for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and for the Ministry of Environment.
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NVISEA provides their technicians with the necessary equipment to safely conduct these surveys, including dry suits, snorkels and masks, flotation vests, satellite telephones, and four wheel drive transportation.
Assessments for fall spawner salmon species are conducted on the Marble River, Artlish River, Kaouk River, Tahsish River, Colonial/Cayeghle Rivers and the Cluxewe River. Winter Steelhead index swims are conducted on the Cluxewe River. NVISEA has also been involved with swims searching for Atlantic salmon adults and juveniles on a number of North Island and Central mainland rivers.
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| Electronic Counters
NVISEA has partnered with DFO and the Kwakuitl First Nation to use an advanced in-stream counting device known as DIDSON (Dual Frequency Identification Sonar). This technology makes it possible to assess a unique May run of Quatse River Sockeye Salmon, which would otherwise be difficult due to the tannin colour of the Quatse River.
NVISEA is also partnered with the DFO and Ministry of Environment in the operation of the Keogh River Resistivity Counter and Enumeration Fence. The Keogh River is DFO’s area 12 Index stream and is one of B.C.’s longest data sets on adult returns, smolt out-migrations and ocean survival.
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Juveniles
NVISEA is active in a number of juvenile enumeration projects. NVISEA partners with the Keogh River Enumeration Fence to assess smolt outmigration population and timing. The fence is operated yearly from April to
mid-June. |
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NVISEA also partners with the Friends of the Marble River Society for the operation of the Marble River rotary screw trap and the Sarah Lake outlet fence. The Marble rotary screw trap is located at the outflow of Alice Lake and is used to study out migration timing of Chinook and Coho juveniles. Data is also collected relating to size, health and condition of the captured juveniles. Sarah Lake heads a tributary creek that flows into the Marble River. The Sarah Lake fence is operated during the spring to study the success of hatchery clipped coho fry plants out migrating Sarah Lake. Data for size, condition and migration timing is also collected.
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For our O’Connor Lake net pen site, NVISEA operates a fence on the lake’s outlet stream serving a dual purpose of enumerating the O’Connor Lake contribution to Keogh River outmigrants and acting as a safeguard capturing hatchery clipped escapees.
NVISEA also conducts presence/absence surveys, species identification and distribution surveys, and fry salvage/removal projects. NVISEA utilizes electrofishers, minnow traps and juvenile seine and isolation nets to perform these tasks. |
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