Do you eat fish that have been caught from the Canadian side of the St. Marys River?
If so, the St. Marys River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) would like to hear from you.
The RAP at Algoma University has launched a community fish consumption survey to form a better understanding of fish consumption patterns within the St. Marys River.
By understanding the consumption habits of local anglers, subsistence fishers and the general public, researchers will be able to form a better understanding of consumption patterns within our community, the university said in a news release.
The information will help the RAP focus efforts on research and monitoring initiatives, and will be used in educational outreach efforts within our community.
The Remedial Action Plan is a partnership between government agencies, industry, environmental organizations, and public citizens that work together to develop and implement the restoration for the St. Marys River.
The St. Marys River was designated as an area of concern in 1987 under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
An area of concern is a term used to identify hotspots on the Great Lakes where the environment has been harmed to the point that it affects the use and enjoyment of that area or the overall health of the lake or river.
Since 1988, there has been significant progress in restoring the environmental quality of the St. Marys River.
On the Canadian side, this includes compliance with industrial regulations introduced in the mid-1990s, upgrades to the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s largest wastewater treatment plant in 2006, removal of more than 31,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediment from the Algoma Steel boat slip, and naturalization projects to restore fish and wildlife habitats.
Over the past 30 years, contaminants of concern in the river have shown considerable improvements and have continued to decline.
These findings indicate that the levels of contaminants in fish within the St. Marys River have declined and that fish consumption restrictions have improved.
In order to confirm the level of improvement, the RAP team is asking for public participation in a fish consumption survey.
Look for surveyors at community events and fishing derbies where they will be conducting in-person surveys. This survey will determine which species of fish are most commonly eaten from the river and in what quantities to help inform RAP actions and decisions.
Or, click on this link to access the survey.
For more information on what fish are safe to eat and how much, visit the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish produced by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, by clicking here.
The Guide to Eating Ontario Fish provides easy-to-use information to help choose fish caught from Ontario lakes and rivers to minimize exposure to toxins. Consumption advice in the guide is based on guidelines provided by Health Canada.
Survey seeks respondents who eat fish from St. Marys River - SooToday
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