LE3 .A278 2014

2014

Redden, Anna

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

The Bay of Fundy (BoF) Striped Bass population, currently assessed as Endangered by COSEWIC, is generally not well understood. Despite increased overall research effort, the marine phase of the population has received limited investigation. Two potential threats facing the population, an unmonitored recreational fishery and encounter risk associated with testing of tidal in-stream energy conversion (TISEC) devices, were investigated using creel survey, mark-recapture tagging, and acoustic telemetry techniques. Recreational catch was dominated by 3-4 year olds (comprising 75% of the catch). Limited capture of bass of retainable size (≥68cm TL) resulted in high rates of catch and release (>95%). Recaptures indicated a limited summer-fall movement range, with evidence of site residency and inter-annual site fidelity. VEMCO telemetry equipment experienced reductions in range and detection efficiency as current speed increased. Current speed, tidal stage, tag power, and distance were significant predictors of detection success. Of 80 acoustically tagged bass, 53 were detected within Minas Passage; 26 were detected only within Minas Basin. Larger bass (>55 cm TL) released from the Stewiacke River site were present within Minas Passage and the FORCE site more regularly and at deeper depths (surface to >95m) than smaller bass (<55 cm TL) tagged at Grand Pré. Future research should focus on Striped Bass behaviour in the FORCE turbine test area, including their detection and evasion of TISEC devices.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:344