Fishing for Information
Yukon Energy is currently looking into the possibility of using additional water from Mayo Lake for power production at the Mayo.JPG)
generating plant. Before we know if this is feasible we must study the lake’s ecosystem to better understand what the potential effects might be.
To that end Yukon Energy recently finished a fish gillnetting program, aimed at providing information about the health and age class strength of the lake’s trout and whitefish. This is similar to studies done on Aishihik Lake every five to ten years.
The number of fish allowed for capture was set after consulting with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (NND), Yukon Fisheries and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In total 346 lake trout and 408 lake whitefish were processed.
Biologists took the otoliths (small bones located in the head that allows scientists to determine the fish’s age). Then the NND distributed most of the fish to people in the community.
Once we have the final results of the study we will share the information with NND, Yukon Fisheries, Fisheries and Oceans and other interested parties.
Photo: NND summer student Charles Blysak helps with the gillnetting.
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