Timing Windows

MANITOBA IN-WATER CONSTRUCTION TIMING WINDOWS FOR THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND FISH HABITAT

Restricted activity timing windows have been identified for Manitoba lakes, rivers and streams to protect fish during spawning and incubation periods when spawning fish, eggs and fry are vulnerable to disturbance or sediment. During these periods, no in-water or shoreline work is allowed except under site- or project-specific review and with the implementation of protective measures. Restricted activity periods are determined on a case by case basis according to the species of fish in the water body, whether those fish spawn in the spring, summer or fall, and whether the water body is located in Northern or Southern Manitoba.

Timing windows are just one of many measures used to protect fish and fish habitat when carrying out a work or undertaking in or around water. Be sure to follow all of the measures outlined in the Operational Statements to avoid negative impacts to fish habitat.

Figure 1:
Northern and Southern Manitoba boundaries
for spawning timing windows.

How To Determine Timing Windows

1. Determine the fish species living in the water body where you wish to do work. Consult the Province of Manitoba Angling Map (available from the Government of Manitoba map sales) which details the fish present in most Manitoba lakes and streams, or contact your local Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) office. Pictures of most of these fish species can be found in the Manitoba Angler’s Guide (sport fishing regulations).
2. Determine if the fish living in the water body spawn in the spring, summer, or fall according to Table 1. You can have one, two or all three fish spawning types in one water body. In Manitoba, essentially all lakes and streams contain one or more of the spring spawning fish listed, however far fewer contain summer or fall spawning fish.
3. Determine if the water body is located in Northern or Southern Manitoba according to Figure 1.
4. Use Table 2 to determine the in-water work timing restrictions according to the location of a water body (North or South) and the type of fish found within (spring, summer or fall spawners). During these periods no in-water work (below the ordinary high water mark) is to occur without site- or project-specific review by DFO.

Table 1:
Common spring, summer and fall spawning fish.

Spring Spawning Fish	Summer Spawning Fish	Fall Spawning Fish
Northern Pike Walleye, Sauger Yellow Perch Suckers Smallmouth Bass Arctic Grayling	Channel Catfish Lake Sturgeon Goldeye, Mooneye White Bass Freshwater Drum Carmine Shiner*	Brook Trout Lake Trout Arctic Char Lake Whitefish

Table 2:
Timing Windows when no in-water work is to occur in order to protect spawning fish and developing eggs and fry.

	Spring Spawning Fish	Summer Spawning Fish	Fall Spawning Fish
Northern Manitoba	April 15 to June 30	May 15 to July 15	September 1 to May 15
Southern Manitoba	April 1 to June 15	May 1 to June 30*	September 15 to April 30

* Carmine Shiner - This is a Species At Risk found only in Southern Manitoba in the Whitemouth River and its tributaries, the Bird River and its tributaries and the Pinawa Channel. This fish spawns from May 15 to July 15 and this extended summer spawning timing window should be applied to those water bodies where it is found.

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