Nipigon Bay

Identification of Coaster Brook Trout
Habitat and Rehabilitation Tools, Ontario

The north shore of Lake Superior is the last remaining stronghold for coaster brook trout. Though numbers are dangerously low, rugged terrain and remote access has left most of the area free from development and allowed coasters to persist.

In 2002, a study was undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Trent University to determine if coaster brook trout are a unique population, subspecies or an ecotype. An ecotype is a distinct group of individuals that are subdivided from the species due to habitat and environmental conditions and isolation. After two years of data collection and analysis it was shown that coasters are not genetically distinct from brook trout, their stream dwelling counterparts.

Trout Unlimited Canada and TUC's Special Projects Biologist, Silvia D'Amelio continued the research program in the spring of 2003 and obtained funding from Ontario Living Legacy Trust and the Canada-Ontario Agreement. The primary goal of this research is to quantify the habitat differences among a set of tributaries within Nipigon Bay and correlate those differences with coaster brook trout production. Research looked at a variety of factors known to affect brook trout growth and survival, including water temperature, flow rates, structure, woody debris and species composition in the tributaries.

The information gathered will be used to create a model to predict which tributaries are most likely to support coaster brook trout production. This model will be fine-tuned by actually testing it in the field on those tributaries known to produce coasters. In addition to categorizing the tributaries, the information will be used to develop tools to identify and inventory brook trout and coaster populations along the Lake Superior north shore and predict potential release sites in order to maximize coaster brook trout rehabilitation success.

The results of this work will greatly aid coaster brook trout rehabilitation and conservation efforts on both the U.S. and Canadian shores of Lake Superior by identifying tributaries with the highest probability of success for rehabilitation. The integration of angling groups and local residents into the research will increase the public's awareness of the role of habitat in aquatic ecosystems, teach and encourage proper handling and sampling of fish to minimize fish stress and promote sustainable resource use. The interaction with the public will also create a forum for general discussion and provide a resource for individuals with an interest in aquatic biology. In addition, this work may aid in the management and restoration of other coastal trout species and their habitats.

Download a copy of TU-Canada’s Coaster Brook Trout Stream Habitat report. [1]

To become involved or for more information please contact Silvia D'Amelio at Trout Unlimited Canada at sdamelio@tucanada.org [2].