Fish capture and relocation

The purpose of pre-capture planning is to design a site-specific strategy to effectively capture and relocate fish in a manner that will reduce stress and injury and mitigate the death of fish.

These pre-capture activities will provide knowledge of fish species and densities, and site-specific habitat features to inform the approach.

3.1.1 Qualifications

All aspects of this standard are expected to be applied by, or in consultation with, a QEP.

3.1.2 Permits

One or more permits, licences and authorizations may be required prior to proceeding with the fish CR.

• Obtain all applicable federal, provincial or territorial permits, licenses, and authorizations for fish CR.
  • Comply with all the terms and conditions of the permit obtained.
  • Keep a copy of the permit on site at all times in the possession of the Permit Holder or a person acting under the Permit Holder’s authority that can be made available to an enforcement officer upon request.
  • All persons undertaking the fish CR under the authority of the Permit Holder will do so under the direction and oversight of the Permit Holder and will be familiar with the conditions of the Permit.

3.1.2.1 Fishing licence

Obtain a licence to fish for the fish CR.

3.1.2.2 Species at risk

If species at risk are likely present, a Species at Risk Act permit may be required.

3.1.2.3 Aquatic invasive species

When conducting fish CR, include measures to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

3.1.3 Transmittable diseases

There are aquatic species such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and other micro-organisms that can have devastating impacts in the aquatic environment. When conducting fish CR, include measures to prevent the introduction and spread of transmittable aquatic diseases.

3.1.4 Isolations

Temporarily isolating fish from in-water projects is a critical step that occurs during most fish CR to ensure the safety of fish. Properly designed and installed fish exclusion barriers prevent fish from re-entering the isolated area once removed, protect aquatic organisms from potential stress and injury and help maintain regulatory compliance. Exclusion barriers must be tailored to site-specific conditions, ensuring they effectively exclude fish from the work area. Fish exclusion barriers are intended solely for fish exclusion (for example, screen or mesh). Different types of barriers are used to exclude flow and to manage sediment laden water. In some cases, fish CR does not involve fish isolation (for example, CR of non-motile marine invertebrates prior to placement of material on habitat).

3.1.5 Pushing, herding, or corralling

The primary goal of pushing, herding, or corralling is to minimize the number of fish requiring fish CR by encouraging fish to leave the work area before isolation through passive, low-stress methods. These approaches reduce the number of fish exposed to the risk of stress or injury from CR, and improve the efficiency of fish CR efforts.

3.1.6 Dewatering

Projects may involve isolation and dewatering activities. When used appropriately, dewatering, in conjunction with fish CR can be an effective tool for concentrating fish within a smaller area, making the fish CR process more efficient. By gradually lowering water levels, fish are passively concentrated into confined sections of the water body, allowing for quicker and more targeted CR efforts. Proper planning and execution of dewatering can significantly reduce the time and effort required for fish CR and therefore reduce the risk of stress or injury from CR due to multiple capture efforts.

Capture effectiveness is influenced by the type of non-lethal fish capture gear used and by factors such as water conditions (for example, clarity, flow, depth), environmental variables, habitat characteristics, and substrate composition. A QEP will determine the best method(s) based on the site-specific conditions.

• Use only non-lethal fish capture methods.
• Select and combine passive and/or active fish capture methods to account for environmental conditions, to ensure all fish species and sizes in all habitat types are effectively targeted, and to reduce risk of stress, injury, and mortality.
• Refer to applicable provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for specific fish capture methods that may be required or restricted by those jurisdictions.

3.2.1 Passive methods

Passive capture methods involve the use of entrapment devices to capture fish without active movement by humans or machines. Entrapment devices capture fish that enter an enclosed area through one or more funnel or V-shaped openings that hinder escape after entrance.

• Use passive fish capture methods such as entrapment devices (for example, Hoop nets, trap nets, Gee-type minnow, Windermere, and pot devices).

3.2.1.1 Entrapment devices

3.2.2 Active methods

Active fish capture methods refer to fish collection techniques where humans actively utilize moving nets or devices to pursue and collect fish. These techniques require continuous operation during use and rely on mobility or direct interaction to target fish within a specific area.

3.2.2.1 Dip netting

3.2.2.2 Electrofishing

• Use electrofishing to strategically target fishes within freshwater environments. Electrofishing is not suitable for use in the marine environment.
  • Apply electrofishing consistently across the entire isolated wetted area of the project to maximize capture efficiency, ensuring water depth does not exceed the vertical extent of the electric field.
  • Employ backpack electrofishing in wadeable areas with compact substrate.
  • Employ boat or float electrofishing in non-wadeable areas or areas with soft substrate.
  • Select electrofishing settings based on water quality conditions, fish species, and fish size.
  • Refer to applicable federal, provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for required operator competencies, specific water quality condition limitations, and gear restrictions of those jurisdictions.

3.2.2.3 Seine netting

3.2.2.4 Hand capture

• Use hand capture to collect non-motile or sedentary fish species.
• Refer to applicable federal, provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for specific collection restrictions and recommendations by those jurisdictions.

3.2.3 Clearance criteria

A variety of appropriate passive and/or active fish capture methods must be deployed through successive passes until all fish have been captured and relocated away from the project area and its influence.

• If no other specific permits or guidance applies, fish CR may conclude after 2 consecutive attempts with each gear type (that is, active and/or passive methods covering the entire wetted project area) that result in zero fish being captured.
• If site isolation measures are compromised or if there are significant delays in the project following fish CR, fish CR efforts must be re-implemented to ensure the continued protection of fish in the affected area.
• Refer to applicable federal, provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for specific clearance criteria (that is, minimum effort required, maximum fish captured by species during fishing efforts) of those jurisdictions.

Handle captured fish in a manner that minimizes the risk of stress, injury, and mortality. Proper planning will help to minimize handling time.

• Land and handle fish using dip nets made of soft and non-abrasive material.
• Use wet, clean, bare hands or decontaminated, non-abrasive gloves to prevent removing the mucous barrier from fish.
• Minimize air exposure, particularly in extreme cold or heat conditions.
• Refer to applicable federal and provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for minimum fish data collection requirements and tagging procedures of those jurisdictions. 
• Enumerate captured fish by species prior to release, ensuring that these actions do not jeopardize their survival.

Hold and transport fish in a manner that minimizes the risk of stress, injury, and mortality.

• Minimize hold times.
• Minimize transport distances.
• Separate fish by their respective species and life stages in the appropriate size and number of containers to limit overcrowding and predation.
• Monitor fish in holding containers for signs of stress.
• Monitor water quality conditions in holding containers (that is, water temperature and dissolved oxygen); refresh water as needed.
• Minimize differences in temperature and oxygen concentrations between source water and water in holding containers.
• Consider holding fish in insulated, covered and aerated containers and out of the elements during extreme weather or longer transport times.
• Refer to applicable federal and provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for specific fish-holding and transport restrictions of those jurisdictions.

Release fish in a location and manner that minimizes risk of stress, injury, and mortality. Fish should be released immediately upstream or downstream of the capture site, beyond the influence of the project. Migrating fish should be released either upstream or downstream based on their current life stage requirements. The release sites should be easily accessible and potential construction-related disturbances (for example, noise, vibration, light pollution) at these sites should be considered. The functions, features and attributes of the receiving habitat should be similar to the capture site.

• Safely relocate fish from the isolated work area to an appropriate location in the same watercourse or water body.
• Release fish into waters with similar habitat functions, features and attributes to the capture site.
• Release fish in multiple locations within the same watercourse or water body to maintain natural species density and limit overcrowding and predation (if large quantity of fish is to be released).
• Monitor released fish to ensure that they adapt to conditions in the receiving environment.
• Select alternative fish release location(s) if fish are not adapting to their receiving environment.
• Refer to applicable federal, provincial or territorial permits and guidance documents for authorized release locations and disposal procedures for mortalities for those jurisdictions.