Fleming College students helping to raise the muskie population in Lake Simcoe

Fleming College is partnering with Muskies Canada Inc. and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on a project to restore muskellunge to Lake Simcoe.

Guided by fish and wildlife program coordinator Al Chamberlain and supervised by fisheries technician and instructor Sasha Fernando, the project at the Frost Campus Fish Hatchery initially expected to rear between 200 and 500 muskellunge from their green egg life stage to fall fingerlings.

However, the project has already succeeded in stocking out more than 1,000 fall fingerling muskellunge averaging seven to 10 inches in length with more to be stocked out later this fall.

"The Fleming College muskellunge research facility has been so successful due to a committed team of faculty, staff, student workers and volunteer help. Anytime you deal with raising live animals it becomes a 24 hour a day job. Attention to detail and following a strict regime of daily fish culture practices have contributed to our success," says Fernando.

The group has been following strict rearing protocols, applying the methods of a previously successful reintroduction, and excellent support from the staff at Frost Campus all played a role in exceeding the project's goals, added Chamberlain.

The college raised the fall fingerlings in support of the Lake Simcoe Muskellunge Restoration project.

Muskellunge are native to Lake Simcoe but overharvesting, habitat loss and ecological change led to their demise, says Fernando.

As part of their field experience, second and third-year students in the fish and wildlife program will be stocking the fish throughout November.

In Canada, the range of the muskellunge extends throughout the St. Lawrence River and all of the Great Lakes, to many inland waters of Ontario and Quebec.

Its preferred habitat is warm, vegetated lakes, bays, and slow-flowing rivers. The muskellunge is a predatory species whose main food source is other fish.

The Frost Campus is also home to the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration project, now in its second year.

The hatchery has been successful in raising Atlantic salmon for release into designated watersheds such as the Cobourg Creek and Credit River for the eventual restoration of Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario.