Dr. Steven Cooke from Carleton University brings Blue Fish Radio listeners up to date on the latest thinking and research on the role of citizen scientists / anglers, circle and barbless hooks, and fish population and fishing pressure management. Dr. Cooke also discusses the Cooke Lab’s newest Rideau watershed bass population angler survey, and their Fund a Fish program geared towards remotely tracking bass to document the role sanctuaries play in promoting fish health in freshwater lakes. And the work he and his students are undertaking to understand fish physiology and what anglers need to know about fishing sustainably.

Dr. Steven Cooke’s team at Carleton University helps protect and manage fisheries and aquatic ecosystems by researching Conservation Physiology, a discipline which examines how fish and other organisms respond to change. A new research initiative by the Cooke Lab is studying Ontario’s Rideau Watershed, including tagging, tracking and monitoring small and large-mouth bass using acoustic receivers and micro acoustic transmitters. For the study to be successful, the Lab requires the assistance of anglers by participating in a 10-minute survey about their experience fishing the Rideau Watershed, and by donating to the “Fund a fish” program.  Donors will receive personalized information on the fish they’ve “funded,” including where it was tagged, where it swam, and ultimately, how the data the fish provided will improve fisheries management in the area.

Click on the link to take the Rideau Watershed Bass fishing survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BlackBassBigRideauLake

Click on the link for more information about the Cooke Lab at Carleton University www.fecpl.ca.