1. Research priorities for the management of freshwater fish habitat in Canada
- Author
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Jennifer MacDonald, Katherine McKercher, Laura Phalen, Rob Knight, Douglas C. Braun, Thomas C. Pratt, Jacob P. Ziegler, Neil J. Mochnacz, Marten A. Koops, Keith D. Clarke, Eva C. Enders, Alex de Paiva, Neil Fisher, Jacob W. Brownscombe, R. Allen Curry, Jonathan W. Moore, Andrea Doherty, Jacques Trottier, Scott M. Reid, Brie A. Edwards, Jonathan D. Midwood, Caleb T. Hasler, Dean Watts, Lisa Robichaud, Douglas A. Watkinson, Andréanne Demers, Daniel Coombs, Cindy Chu, Cody J. Dey, Christopher Burbidge, Christine M. Boston, Karen Winfield, Les N. Harris, Emma E Hodgson, Karen Dunmall, Karin Ponader, Jordan S. Rosenfeld, Stuart Campbell, Mark K. Taylor, Karen E. Smokorowski, Paul J. Blanchfield, Darrin Sooley, Ken M. Jeffries, Tyler D. Tunney, William R. Glass, Adam I Rego, Robert W. Mackereth, John R. Post, Charles K. Minns, Marika Gauthier-OuelletM. Gauthier-Ouellet, Lonnie King, Chantal Nessman, Claude Normand, Maja Cvetkovic, Karine Nantel, Steven J. Cooke, Susan E. Doka, Amanda K. Winegardner, Jason R. Treberg, Joclyn E. Paulic, Jaclyn Hill, Marie-Pierre Veilleux, Rick Kiriluk, Jenie Cooper, Alwyn C. Rose, Scott G. Hinch, Constance M. O’Connor, Robert L. McLaughlin, Alex L. Levy, Court Berryman, Margaret F. Docker, Alicia A. Cassidy, Michael J. Bradford, and Jason Hwang
- Subjects
Fishery ,Geography ,biology ,Habitat ,Aquatic ecosystem ,Freshwater fish ,Effective management ,Aquatic Science ,biology.organism_classification ,Fisheries Act ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Effective management of freshwater fish habitat is essential to supporting healthy aquatic ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. In Canada, recent changes to the Fisheries Act enhanced the protection of fish habitat, but application of those provisions relies on sound scientific evidence. We employed collaborative research prioritization methods to identify scientific research questions that, if addressed, would significantly advance the management of freshwater fish habitat in Canada. This list was generated by a diverse group of freshwater fish experts, including substantial contributions from practitioners who administer provisions of the Fisheries Act. The research questions generated in this study identify priority topics for future research, while highlighting issues that could be addressed with different funding models. As a result, this study should support evidence-based management of Canada’s aquatic resources by identifying scientific knowledge gaps faced by practitioners, and suggesting mechanisms to address them. Given the important contribution of Canadian freshwater systems to global ecosystem values, and the similar scientific challenges facing fish habitat managers in other jurisdictions, this study is likely to have broad applicability.
- Published
- 2021
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