Ph.D. candidate Jake Brownscombe and M.Sc. candidate Dirk Algera from Dr. Steven Cooke’s Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Lab were both awarded 2015 Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Fisheries Research Grants. Supported by the Toronto Sportsman Show, OFAH Zone H, St. Catharines Game and Fish Association, and Conservation Club of West Fish and Wildlife, these grants are highly competitive and aimed at supporting research focusing on conserving Ontario’s sport fisheries. Jake and Dirk attended the annual OFAH conference on March 21, 2015 in Mississauga, ON to receive their awards and deliver presentations on their upcoming research projects. Jake’s research will focus on determining effective recovery tactics for fish after being captured by recreational anglers, filling in important knowledge gaps in best angling practices and improving the sustainability of recreational angling. Dirk presented a brief synopsis on his upcoming research project exploring whether nest guarding male smallmouth bass change their parental care behaviours in response to stressors. Nest guarding males will be angled from their nest, have their stress levels endogenously or exogenously elevated, and have a variety of behaviours monitored for 4 days using tri-axial accelerometers to measure any changes in various behaviours at a fine scale.
The OFAH conference was well attended by representatives from industry, NGOs, governmental agencies, and the OFAH membership, presenting lots of opportunity for exposure and networking.Other interesting topics pertaining to recreational angling and hunting were of central focus throughout the conference including field identification of duck species, research tracking deer range contraction during hunting season, and research tracking seasonal duck movement using GPS. Jake and Dirk’s presentations generated interest from OFAH members, industry reps, and an MP involved in the Conservative Hunting and Angling Caucus.
In the evening, a number of speakers and awards presentations took place over dinner (including wild game pepperettes and sausages as appetizers). Overall the conference was a great experience, providing excellent opportunity to interact with a variety of stakeholders implicated in the various Cooke Lab research projects.
