TAG AND INFO
SAMPLE SUBMISSION
1) Each fish gets a gill tag. Tags have a FISH ID – a unique code (X - ####) at the bottom.
7)
RECOMMENDED: Take photos of the fish and upload them with the app. Focus on what you find important (guts, ovaries/ testes, meat, head). Use the QR code (left) or visit https://arcg.is/11jS4P0.
8)
For each fish, fill out a row on a Fish Health Data Sheet. a. Include any observations you find important! b. Circle Yes (Y) or No (N) for places you see (or don’t see) parasites on the fish (examples on reverse). c. Under photo, circle Yes if you are submitting fish photos, No if you aren’t. d. FISH ID on Tag and Data Sheet should match for each fish.
2) Fill in the location of where you caught the fish, Lake Name or Creek (above/below falls). 3) Fill in the date you caught the fish.
Tiotià:kton Volunteer Stewardship 2022-2023
4) Record Total Length (nearest ¼” inch) and
the weight in pounds. If you don’t have a scale, leave the weight blank. Total Length
Niá:wen for contributing to Volunteer Fisher Stewards program in Tioweró:ton If you are harvesting tiotià:kton (trout) and would like to share the head with us, we can learn more about their populations’ health. Otolith bones in fish heads tell fish age. From this, we can compare trout growth rates between lakes and the creeks. Low growth rates can indicate stress.
5) Circle sex of the fish, Male(M) or Female(F). If you are not sure, circle “?” (see other side of page). 6) Remove the entire fish head, attach the tag with a zip tie through the gills. Store frozen.
9) Submit your samples in a large Ziploc bag. Please put your name*, date, number of fish on the bag Include: a. Tagged fish heads (in bag) b. Fish Health Data Sheet
Numbers of fish caught in each lake will be confidential. Only overall growth rates will be shared with others in the community. Each fish sample must include: a) Tagged fish head b) Information entered on Fish Health Data Sheet Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office 450-635-0600 environmentprotection@mck.ca +
10) Submit your samples during working hours at: a. Caretakers’ office b. Environment Office (KEPO) (Behind PK Station, Blue building, 1st Floor) *Your name will not be associated with the information you provide without your explicit consent. Names are only for clarification of sample details (if necessary).
WHY SAMPLE THE FISH LIKE THIS? OMNR/ Laurentian Univ.
OMNR/ Laurentian Univ.
- We can use tiny ear bones inside fish heads (otoliths) to find fish age. If we measure fish age and length, we can find how fast they grow. Slow growth rates indicate stress. If we know which populations are stressed, we can begin to address the causes. - By using fish that are already being harvested, this study will put no additional stress on tiotià:kton populations (no extra captures or handling). Instead, we will use an often-unused piece of the animal to learn more about it.
Ovaries (F)
Testes (M)
Fish sex is determined by observing ovaries (females) or testes (males) in the fish body cavity. They come in pairs, with testes looking like sacs of slimy white or off-white, or even pinkish playdough. Ovaries look slimy sacs of tiny orange or yellow beads.
- Observations are important! If you notice something about the fish (injury, sores, strange coloration, smell, taste, parasites) it is worth recording. Good stewardship depends on sharing knowledge with the community.
Ovaries and testes are largest closest to the spawning season but can be tiny at other times. If you are not 100% sure what the sex is, just select “?” as the sex on the fish tag. If you submit photos with our photo submission app, we may be able to help you. You can also ask a fish expert in town. Please do not circle “M” or “F” if you are unsure of the sex— it may hurt the study if you do!
- As an acknowledgement of your contribution, we will meet with you 1-on-1 for updates and will (if you wish) acknowledge your contributions in our newsletters and website.
SEX IDENTIFICATION:
Examples of parasites in Meat (left) Gills (Center) Outside (Right).
- NOTE: Tags are for sample identification only, they are not for licensing or regulation.