Latest news with #FisheriesandOceansCanada
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Northwest Atlantic harp seal populations decline around the Gulf of St. Lawrence
A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) survey conducted more than three years ago found that northwest Atlantic harp seal pup counts were at their lowest since 1994. In a May 23 news conference at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Que., DFO scientist Joanie Van de Walle said these seal pups need stable ice coverage for many weeks during their young age. 'We have noticed that when ice conditions are not appropriate it can result in massive mortality of youngsters because they are not able to survive when they fall in the water,' said the English translation. A DFO survey conducted in March 2022 measured the pup count of northwest Atlantic harp seals at 614,100. Scientific data from DFO has found that despite hunting northwest Atlantic harp seals near Greenland, its has contributed very little to the cause of mortality among young seals. 'Today, the ice coverage and climate index explain a large proportion of youths' mortality,' said the English interpretation. Besides the impact on youth survival, Van de Wall saw that environmental changes have an impact on reproduction rates, which is essential in explaining abundance and fluctuation. 'We have observed that there is a general reduction in the reproduction rates – but the rate of abortion over time has increased,' said the English interpretation. In an interview with The Guardian on May 23, Van de Walle says researchers haven't found any direct relationship between the lack of recovery of some of the few commercially fished species and the diet of northwest Atlantic harp seals. 'In terms of the harp seal population, the fact that it is declining, we don't expect that it would play a big role in the recovery of those species because it was not linked to the recovery to start with,' she said. However, grey seals face a different situation where their population is reaching a status close to carrying that capacity, Van de Walle added. 'And then at some point, we may find impacts, but we're not at the stage of having any direct measure of it yet,' she said. Van de Walle said that the loss of life for the baby harp seals inside their mother's womb could be explained by the decreasing biomass of capelin and lower ice coverage. 'We also observed that gestation rate was correlated with the climate rate in Newfoundland and Labrador,' said the English interpretation. In the winter of 2024, DFO found no births of northwest Atlantic harp seals in the southern region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. However, this past winter, the birthing of harp seals occurred in the Gaspé region of Quebec and Îles-de-la-Madeleine. 'Even if we saw births in 2025, it doesn't mean that it was a good reproduction season for the species. In the future, it is difficult to say what will happen,' said the English interpretation. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached by email at ysasaki@
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Invasive fish captured in N.S. is first of such species found in Atlantic Canada
NEW GERMANY - Fisheries and Oceans Canada says an invasive type of fish called a pond loach has been found in Nova Scotia, marking the first such finding in Atlantic Canada. A single, egg-bearing, female Oriental Weatherfish, or pond loach, was found in Morgans Falls, near New Germany, N.S., the federal department said in an emailed statement Monday. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the fish species is native to eastern Asia, and that the one captured on April 29 was likely introduced to Nova Scotia after being released from an aquarium. Invasive species, such as the pond loach, are a problem because of the disruption they can cause to habitats and ecosystems. Pond loach can reproduce quickly, and once the fish is established in a new habitat, it may compete with native species for food, or prey on them directly. Releasing any aquatic species into a body of water where it is not native, unless authorized by federal, provincial or territorial law, is illegal under the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations. 'To help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, do not let loose any aquatic species into a new body of water, down the drain, or into the sewers,' reads the statement from Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The pond loach is brown or dark green with dark scattered speckles and a light-coloured underside. It has a long, cylindrical, eel-like body, that can measure between 10 and 25 centimetres in length. The fish also has between six and eight barbels, or whiskers, around its mouth. The fish prefer slow-moving, muddy or silty habitats, but the can survive in a range of environmental conditions. The pond loach has also been reported in southern British Columbia, the federal department said, but is not known to occur anywhere else in Canada. The DFO said it has not received any other reports of this species in Nova Scotia, and there are no loach species that are native to the province. If anyone suspects they have seen a pond loach, the DFO is asking them to report it, with pictures, if possible, to its aquatic invasive species division. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025. — By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax.
National Observer
6 days ago
- Science
- National Observer
Invasive fish captured in NS is first of such species found in Atlantic Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says an invasive type of fish called a pond loach has been found in Nova Scotia, marking the first such finding in Atlantic Canada. A single, egg-bearing, female Oriental Weatherfish, or pond loach, was found in Morgans Falls, near New Germany, N.S., the federal department said in an emailed statement Monday. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the fish species is native to eastern Asia, and that the one captured on April 29 was likely introduced to Nova Scotia after being released from an aquarium. Invasive species, such as the pond loach, are a problem because of the disruption they can cause to habitats and ecosystems. Pond loach can reproduce quickly, and once the fish is established in a new habitat, it may compete with native species for food, or prey on them directly. Releasing any aquatic species into a body of water where it is not native, unless authorized by federal, provincial or territorial law, is illegal under the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations. "To help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, do not let loose any aquatic species into a new body of water, down the drain, or into the sewers," reads the statement from Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The pond loach is brown or dark green with dark scattered speckles and a light-coloured underside. It has a long, cylindrical, eel-like body, that can measure between 10 and 25 centimetres in length. The fish also has between six and eight barbels, or whiskers, around its mouth. The fish prefer slow-moving, muddy or silty habitats, but the can survive in a range of environmental conditions. The pond loach has also been reported in southern British Columbia, the federal department said, but is not known to occur anywhere else in Canada. The DFO said it has not received any other reports of this species in Nova Scotia, and there are no loach species that are native to the province. If anyone suspects they have seen a pond loach, the DFO is asking them to report it, with pictures, if possible, to its aquatic invasive species division.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Invasive fish captured in N.S. is first of such species found in Atlantic Canada
NEW GERMANY – Fisheries and Oceans Canada says an invasive type of fish called a pond loach has been found in Nova Scotia, marking the first such finding in Atlantic Canada. The federal department says a single, egg-bearing, female Oriental Weatherfish, or pond loach, was found in Morgans Falls, near New Germany, N.S. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the fish species is native to eastern Asia, and that the one captured on April 29 was likely introduced to Nova Scotia after being released from an aquarium. Invasive species, such as the pond loach, are a problem because of the disruption they can cause to habitats and ecosystems. Pond loach can reproduce quickly, and once the fish is established in a new habitat, it may compete with native species for food, or prey on them directly. The pond loach is brown or dark green with dark scattered speckles and a long, cylindrical, eel-like body, and has between six and eight barbels, or whiskers, around its mouth. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists find millions of 'golden eggs' near underwater volcano in Canada. What are they?
Scientists are speaking out about a remarkable discovery: millions of living eggs near an underwater volcano off the west coast of Canada. "The whole thing is wild," lead researcher Cherisse Du Preez of Fisheries and Oceans Canada told USA TODAY in an email May 20. "It challenges what we consider possible for life on this planet." The discovery dates back to 2023 but has received rounds of media attention since then. More detailed research findings are set to be published in a Canadian government science report soon, Du Preez said. The eggs, which come from the Pacific white skate, were found in waters once thought too cold to support life. The Pacific white skate is a "bone-white, bug-eyed relative of sharks that can live almost two miles underwater," according to National Geographic. "Ours were the first dives on the volcano. No one knew the ancient underwater volcano was active, let alone emitting heat," Du Preez said. "And this geothermally heated hot spot was covered in giant eggs. We think the main nursery is home to 2.6 million golden eggs that take up to 10 years to incubate." She said the skates choose to lay their eggs on the vents to help with incubation: "The deep sea is cold, and heat helps. To grow big, strong animals, some warmth helps." The hot, mineral-rich fluid keeps the surrounding waters toasty, providing ideal conditions for some marine creatures to survive in the deep sea, Live Science said. "As a first, we filmed the female laying eggs. It's out of this world, but at the same time >90% of the livable space on our planet is the deep sea," Du Preez concluded in the email. Du Preez posted video of the discovery, including a robotic arm lifting one of the eggs, which appeared a vibrant gold color. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Millions of white skate eggs found near underwater volcano in Canada
