Project Description:  

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were once abundant in Lake Ontario, but died out in the late 19^th century. A collaborative partnership between universities, government agencies, and NGO’s has been established to attempt to restore self-sustaining populations of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario within the next ten to fifteen years. Key information needs for restoration include determining stocking and recruitment success of different stocked life stages, and assessing life-stage specific survival contributing to adult returns. To address these, we are assessing the relative survival and growth of different life stages (fry, fingerlings, and yearlings) stocked in tributaries, as well as their timing of emigration to Lake Ontario with respect to environmental cues. 

Objectives:

Assess the survival and growth of different life stages of Atlantic salmon introduced to the Lake Ontario watershed utilizing basin wide estimation of Atlantic salmon production, genetic markers and scale pattern analysis.

Investigate the habitat preferences of introduced Atlantic salmon at the watershed scale.

Examine the environmental (i.e.. stream discharge, stream temperature, photoperiod, turbidity) and physiological (i.e. age and size) cues contributing to the emigration of Atlantic salmon smolts from Lake Ontario streams.

Collaborators and Participants:
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Sir Sanford Fleming College

Links: 
Bring Back the Salmon
Atlantic Salmon Federation