Online map outlines fish restocking efforts in Ontario/Prairie region

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is rolling out a new tool to identify areas where the restocking of fish is taking place or needs to occur.

The Restoration Actions Dashboard, or RAD, currently identifies locations in Ontario and the Prairie region, and allows the public to track their progress.

It was born out of a national effort five years ago to identify priorities for conserving and restoring fish habitat.

Outlining the dashboard at the recent Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, Biologist Cindy Desjardins sees it as a tool for planning and coordination of restocking efforts.

“The RAD is designed to support a range of users, each in slightly different ways,” says Desjardins.

“For proponents, it can help identify potential offset opportunities or habitat banking projects under the Fisheries Act. Grant and contribution applicants can use it as a resource for potential restoration opportunities, while funding organizations can use it to inform their planning and project selection.”

Desjardins adds that resource managers can consider RAD when evaluating potential impacts on fish and fish habitat.

Additional sites continue to be added, but they must meet certain criteria.

“We consider things like, does the project meet the FO’s (Fisheries and Oceans) offsetting policy? Is it consistent with fisheries management objectives and current land use? Could it help protect species at risk or prevent the spread of invasive species?” says Desjarding.

They also look to see if there is support from Indigenous communities and the value of the improvements to the fish habitat itself.

To view the dashboard, click here.