Tehotiienawa:kon Environment Walleye Study

Submitted by Jade Gabri

Both Akwesasne along the south shore and Cornwall on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River have been participating in a St. Lawrence River Walleye Study. Through various discussions between the St. Lawrence River Institute and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Tehotiienawa:kon Environment Program, the St. Lawrence River Walleye Study was initiated. The St. Lawrence River Walleye Study has its basis in the knowledge held by Akwesasne’s fishermen. It has been speculated that there are four different sub-species of walleye that are caught from the St. Lawrence River. Much of this speculation exists in the differences fishermen experience when they catch the fish. Differences are noted in taste and physical characteristics, etc. By measuring such body characteristics as ray counts, or the length of the walleye’s head, there are hopes of finding similar characteristics based on the locations where each fish was caught. There are also hopes of finding similar chemical contaminant make-ups through the determination of PCB and mercury levels in the fish that were caught. This project will help decide if there is a sub-species of walleye with less contaminant in it that would be better for consumption by humans. This would allow people to steer clear of fish that are more contaminated and dangerous to human health.

Currently we have:

In the summer and fall of 2012, the St. Lawrence River Institute set gill nets on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Through combined efforts of the St. Lawrence River Institute staff and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Tehotiienawa:kon Environment field technician, fifty walleye were netted in total for the study.

In the fall of 2012, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Tehotiienawa:kon Environment field technician collected over fifty walleye samples from Akwesasne fishermen. An incentive of twenty-five dollars was given per three whole fish, or per six guts, bones, and fins. Thirty-one fish came in the form of whole samples. Twenty-seven fish came in the form of head, guts, bones and fins.

All the samples collected both from the north and south shores of the St. Lawrence River were then dissected. The liver, gonad and dorsal tissue along with a fin clip were all extracted from each of the walleye samples. These were then placed in separate labeled vials and stored in the freezer for future mercury testing. A larger vial of dorsal tissue was also extracted for PCB contaminant testing. Anatomical measurements of head length, total length, first and second dorsal fin base, etc. were also noted.

In the following months:

This Mid-December a senior analyst will be at the St. Lawrence River Institute conducting mercury contaminant testing on the liver, gonad, dorsal tissue and the fin clip of the walleye samples. For PCB contaminant testing the samples will be shipped to Ottawa University.

Next year:

Results of the study will be finalized and reported back to the community.

We are no longer taking walleye samples.

Nia:wen kowa

Davey George, Dan Jacobs, Eric Sunday Jr., Roger Thomas, Vaughn Phillips and Blue Thompson and those fishermen of the 18th annual Noah Thompson Memorial Tournament. Without your contribution, time and overall dedication to fishing, the collection of walleye samples for this study would not have been possible.