Trap and Data Collection Services - Bridgeland Creek

BRIDGELAND CREEK SEA LAMPREY TRAPPING CONTRACT

1.0 BACKGROUND:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has played a vital role in the sea lamprey control program since 1955. It is a binational program that is coordinated by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) and serves to protect the fisheries of the Great Lakes, which have an estimated economic benefit of $7 billion annually. Control is achieved primarily by extensive treatment of streams to eliminate larval sea lampreys. To measure how effective the control program is each year, DFO estimates the populations of adult sea lamprey in each lake on an annual basis. This is done by using traps to estimate populations in streams and then extrapolating to the entire lake. Bridgeland Creek is one of the index streams for Lake Huron.

2.0 OBJECTIVE:

Operate the trap on Bridgeland Creek, conducting a mark-recapture study with the sea lamprey captured, and collect and supply raw data to be used to generate a population estimate in this stream. 

3.0 PROJECT WORK:

Project work will be completed between March 15 and August 1, 2023. Project work for optional years would have similar dates for 2024-2026.

For each year, the first day of trap servicing will be dependent on weather, and will be determined by DFO after March 15. Once the start date has been determined, the trap will be serviced 5 days per week for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks. Work may be required beyond this 10 week period dependent on weather and trap catches, up to a maximum of 4 weeks. These week-long extensions will be determined by DFO at the end of the first 10 weeks and at the end of each subsequent week-long extension.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

1. The language of correspondence must be English.
2.  A vehicle capable of transporting lamprey in water (up to 225 kg) must be supplied.
3.  The services that are required five days per week are:

4.3.1 Ensure traps and barrier are operating as intended. This involves;

a. assisting DFO with the initial cleaning and set‑up of the barrier and traps,

b. general maintenance of the traps and barrier including removal of debris accumulating on the flow through barrier screens, and in and around the traps,

c. contacting DFO personnel when not operating as intended, or vandalism has occurred, and

d. recording the operational status of the traps each day.

4.3.2 Remove, identify and count fishes and invertebrates captured in both traps. This involves;

1. removing all animals captured,

2. identifying and counting the number and species of fish,

3. releasing native species upstream of the barrier,

4. disposing of surplus sea lampreys (up to 750 per day), and

5. recording all information accurately.

4.3.3 Conduct a mark-recapture study to estimate the population in the river. This involves;

1. marking a portion of the sea lampreys with the appropriate fin clip (provided by DFO),

2. maintaining good health of marked lampreys, transporting and releasing them at a designated site downstream,

3. identifying and disposing of fin-clipped sea lampreys recaptured in traps, and

4. recording all information accurately.

4.3.4 Collect biological data from sea lampreys. This involves;

1. measuring length and weight of recaptured lamprey (up to max of 25 per day),

2. dissecting measured specimens to determine sex and maturity,

3. recording all information accurately.

4.3.5 Collect environmental data. This involves;

1. measuring water and air temperature,

2. measuring water levels using staff gauges on site,

3. measuring turbidity, and

4. recording all information accurately

4.3.6 Complete a daily report each time the trap is visited. This involves:

1. recording the date, time, operator name and all information collected in numbers 1 to 5 above,

2. upon completion of each week, mail the set of hard copy daily reports for that week to DFO, and

3. retain field notes to prevent data loss.

   4.3.7 On a weekly basis call or e-mail DFO to report:

   1. the daily number of sea lamprey that were captured and recaptured from each individual trap over the previous week, and

   2. mechanical or structural issues with the barrier or trap.

      *Please note that alternative work may be required in addition to the requirements above. This work could include the transport of trapping equipment from off-site, to the trapping location or vice-versa, and the setup of traps. In the event alternative tasks are required, the work will be carried out in lieu of trapping days. Such arrangements will be worked out between the Contractor and the Senior Biologist at SLCC and agreed upon prior to the tasks taking place.

       

      DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

      DFO will provide a) specialized equipment to complete the on-site work, b) on-site storage for equipment, c) blank data forms to be completed by the Contractor, d) the Task Hazard Analysis for this site to make the Contractor aware of hazards, and e) the Adult Assessment Trapping Protocol that is used at all trap sites to assist the Contractor with data collection requirements.

      CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

      The Contractor is responsible for costs related to disposal of sea lampreys, insurance requirements, transportation to and from the sites, telephone calls to DFO, postage and photocopying.

      RESOURCES AND LEVEL OF EFFORT

      Although the trap site meets safety requirements for one person to be on site, two people are recommended for operating traps, not only for safety, but to provide help with physical lifting and moving of traps, as well as sorting, identifying, counting fishes, and marking and releasing sea lampreys.

      A mark-recapture type population estimate must be conducted, which involves handling, tagging and releasing tagged lampreys in healthy condition.