An overview of our current projects!
Piloting Mussel Watch in Canada
In collaboration with Fathom Five National Marine Park (FFNMP) and TRACE Lab, is exploring a range of contaminants in Lake Huron. Our research involves introducing the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Mussel Watch Program to Canadian waters in the Great Lakes for the first time. We’ve chosen quagga and zebra mussels due to their abundance and unique suitability as contamination indicators. These mussels will be used to assess more than 150 chemical contaminants, including legacy substances like pesticides and emerging concerns like pharmaceuticals and flame retardants. The research aims to reveal the presence of environmental contaminants in the area and their potential impact on the local food web, including the fish population. FFNMP staff, with support from Peel Regional Police’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU), have collected mussels within the park and hope to expand the program to other areas around the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula in the future.
Fish Forever
Project Fish Forever is a collaborative effort involving TRACE Lab, the Water Quality Centre, the Onakawana Education Fund, and McGill University’s Yargeau Lab. It aims to engage both settler and Indigenous communities across Canada in monitoring polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in fish. The project seeks to establish fish monitoring and surveillance hubs nationwide, initially focusing on PFAS and later extending to other contaminants of concern. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all Canadians can safely fish for sustenance and recreation without concerns about consuming contaminated fish. The two-year pilot program includes the creation of sampling hubs in collaboration with Salmon Coast Research Station on the West Coast, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Michipicoten First Nation in the Great Lakes, and Camp Onakwana in the James Bay Lowlands. The research aims to deepen our understanding of PFAS in fish, particularly in regions where fish hold cultural and subsistence significance.
Cumulative Impacts, Fish, and Food Security
The Cumulative Impacts, Fish, and Food Security initiative is at the core of several ongoing projects, prioritizing community knowledge, land relationships, and the importance of fish. Collaborating with multiple Indigenous Nations, these projects include:
Continued Monitoring in Michipicoten First Nation Territory: In response to increasing resource extraction activities, Michipicoten First Nation (MFN) aims to monitor their traditional lands sustainably. Building on a prior project, they will sample mercury levels in Northern Pike, Walleye, and Lake Trout, focusing on lakes frequently used by their harvesters. The project aims to update datasets on mercury levels in fish, providing the community with essential information for their safety. This includes the development of a fish consumption advisory tailored to MFN, incorporating multiple fish species and lakes for more comprehensive guidance.
Mercury in Traditionally Consumed Fish Species of the Moose River Watershed and Basin: Land use changes, like hydroelectric dams and mining, have raised concerns about mercury contamination in fish, potentially affecting the Moose Cree First Nation’s food sources. Collaborating with the community and organizations like Camp Onakawana, Collective Environmental, and Trent University, this project assesses the mercury contamination risks in the Moose River watershed. Community input will identify crucial fishing spots, and surveys will quantify mercury levels in traditionally consumed fish species. The results will inform a practical fish consumption guide and support community planning and environmental assessments for future projects, advocating for best practices while preserving traditional food reliance.
Mapping For Change
Explore the details of “Mapping for Change” by clicking the link provided.
TRACE Lab 