First-of-its-kind spearfishing course aimed at controlling invasive species in Clear Lake
A new invasive species in Clear Lake has Parks Canada taking steps to prevent damage to the aquatic ecosystem.
The smallmouth bass is a top predator fish that isn’t typically found in Manitoba.
“They can actually do a lot of damage to aquatic ecosystems through predation and competition,” said Michele Nicholson, an aquatic ecologist with Parks Canada. “They’re really aggressive predators, and they can really impact native fish species.”
Four employees of Parks Canada and four members of the Coalition of First Nations recently completed a spearfishing course at Riding Mountain National Park. The course teaches how to dive and resurface safely, as well as proper spear throwing techniques.
The smallmouth bass is a top predator fish that isn’t typically found in Manitoba. (Image Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Robyn Bone, one of the course participants, says the course challenged her both physically and mentally.
“It’s the mental part of when you are under the water and the fact that it’s hard to breathe,” she says. “And physically, it takes a lot of effort and energy to do what you need to do.”
Four employees of Parks Canada and four members of the Coalition of First Nations recently completed a spearfishing course at Riding Mountain National Park. (Image Source: Parks Canada)
This course is the first of its kind in Canada, as Nicholson says research on spearfishing in freshwater hasn’t been done before.
“Spearfishing has been used a lot for invasive species in the ocean, but not in freshwater,” she says, adding that Clear Lake’s ecosystem makes it ideal for this kind of population management.
“The water here is really clear, where a lot of freshwater lakes are not. Smallmouth bass nest in shallow water, so we don’t have to dive really deep. And male bass when they’re nesting, they hang out in one place on their nest, so we could use spearfishing to go in and get them.”
With the course complete, the work to manage the smallmouth bass population will begin in the coming weeks.
Parks Canada says any boaters coming to Clear Lake need to get an aquatic invasive species inspection at Riding Mountain’s boat launch area before anything goes in the water.
The course teaches how to dive and resurface safely, as well as proper spear throwing techniques. (Image Source: Parks Canada)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
BREAKING 'A remarkable time': After 8 years at Toronto Public Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa announces resignation
The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
BREAKING Sask. man faces 60 charges in child exploitation investigation, with crimes dating back to 2005
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.