Deer Island, NB, Canada -where friendliness is a way of life!
Marine Life around Deer Island
It is reported that there are over 537 species of fish found in Atlantic Canada including 37 species of cartilaginous fish (sharks,
skates, rays & chimaeras). Most are recorded from the Bay of Fundy. however, the number of commercially harvested fish is much less. These fish can be roughly grouped into groundfish (cod, haddock, pollock, etc.) those occurring on or close to the bottom, and pelagic - those occurring in the water column usually away from the bottom (tuna, herring, mackerel, etc.). They are caught in a number of ways involving nets, hooks or harpoons. Invertebrates are also fished in a number of ways and include squid, lobsters, shrimp, scallops, quahogs, sea urchins and crabs. Some species are collected from rocks (periwinkles) or dug (soft-shelled clams) in the intertidal zone - the area between high and
low water.
We have four species of seals which may be seen in the Bay of Fundy, one of which is common harbour seal, one which is increasing in numbers
(grey seal) and two which are sporadic visitors (hooded and harp seals).
The whales which regularly occur in the Bay of Fundy can be divided into two groups, toothed (Harbour porpoises, Atlantic white-sided dolphins and longfin pilot whales) and "Baleen" whales (minke, finback, sei, humpback, and the endangered right whales - only found in the Bay of Fundy area). Most are seasonal residents from late spring to early winter, however, some occur in the winter. Occasionally other species venture into the Bay such as beluga, orcas, pygmy sperm whale, sperm whale, white-beaked dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, northern bottlenose whale, beaked whale and blue whales. In general, the variety and abundance of these magnificent beasts makes whale-watching a viable and rewarding adventure. (Whale watching available through Lambert's Outer Island Tours.)
The Bay of Fundy includes many species of rays, sharks and skates. It is a common misconception that Bay waters are too cold for these types of fish. Many only appear in the warmer months but some live year-round:
Spiny Dogfish - The most common shark in the Bay of Fundy, this small
schooling shark (70-100cm) is frequently caught during the summer but
not usually sold. Spiny dogfish is marketed as "rock shark", "rock cod" or "rock salmon" and is often eaten in Europe and used for English fish and chips. It is probably the most written about shark in the world
because of its abundance and the negative effect on commercial fisheries.
Porbeagle - usually caught in fishing gear this medium sized shark (max. length 3m or 10') is usually marketed as "Mako". Porbeagles eat mostly herring, mackerel and squid, small cod, hake and cusk. They may occur all year round but are most common from spring to fall.
Basking Shark - The second largest shark in the world, these slow moving sharks filter feed on plankton by skimming the small organisms from the water with modified gill structures. Their gill slits almost encircle their head and they can be seen swimming just beneath the surface with their mouths agape. These sharks are sometimes called "mud sharks". Basking sharks come to the surface on calm days, and swim slowly with the top of their dorsal fin exposed, hence the name "basking". They are proficient at breaching - leaping clear of the water as whales do, although an explanation for this behaviour in basking sharks is not readily known.
Great White Shark - These sharks are usually found in the Bay of Fundy between April and November, their presence usually noted when caught in fishing gear. The diet of great whites is varied, ranging from
mackerel, hake, salmon and tuna to other sharks, seabirds, marine
mammals and sea turtles. All great whites examined from the Bay have
had harbour porpoises or harbour seals in their stomachs. Numbers of
sharks is always difficult to determine and may vary greatly from year
to year. There are no recorded "shark attacks" on swimmers in the
Bay.
Thresher Shark - Summer visitors, these medium sized sharks (3.3 to 5.5 m or 10 to 18') are easily recognized because of their long tail, often the same length as the body. Usually eating schooling fish such as herring and mackerel, or squid and crustaceans, they use their long tail to circle the fish into a tight ball. There are stories of threshers attacking whales but these reports are difficult to verify.
Little Skate - Bottom living, winter residents, they reach a max. length of 53 cm (or 21"). They eat bottom living invertebrates such as crustaceans. Of little value to the fishing industry, they are used for fish meal. They are also used as laboratory animals.
Barndoor Skate - Bottom living, probably year-round, they reach a length of 127-142cm (or 50-56"). They eat bivalves, squid, rock crabs, lobsters, shrimp, marine worms, and a variety of fish. Of little value to the fishing industry, they are sometimes ground into fish meal.
Winter Skate - Bottom living, winter residents, they reach a length of 80cm (or 31"). They eat crustaceans, small fish, and bivalves. Of little value to the fishing industry, they are sometimes ground into fish meal. They are also used occasionally as laboratory animals.
Thorny Skate - Bottom living, found year round, they reach max. lengths of 100 cm (or 39") although size varies with location. They eat polychaetes, crustaceans and fish. Again, of little value to the fishing industry, they are sometimes ground into fish meal. In Europe these skates are marketed for human consumption.
Smooth Skate - Bottom living, year round residents, they reach max. lengths of 60 cm (24"). They feed on crustaceans. Of little value to the fishing industry, they are sometimes ground into fish meal.
Groundfish - There are many species of groundfish or bottom fish
caught commercially. The most common are cod, haddock and pollock (or
Boston bluefish). Flatfish including halibut (the largest in this
group), flounders, sole, plaice, and turbot also fall into this
category, along with less known fish such as silver and white hake,
cusk, redfish and monkfish. Various arrangements of hooks and nets are
used to catch groundfish, some more efficient than others. The catch may
be sold fresh or salted and air dried into "slack salted" fish which can be cut into chips and sold in bulk.
Atlantic herring - common schooling fish, called brit for the first year, sardines if under 17.5cm (7"), sea herring (or bloater or roe herring) if larger than 23cm (9"). Herring may reach lengths of 43cm (14"). Herring filter feed on plankton and other small organisms, and in turn are an important prey species for other fish, sharks, seabirds, and marine mammals. Herring are caught in a number of ways but the most
obvious is the herring weir - an ingenious fish trap which is successful because of the natural behaviour of herring. Herring tend to move to the surface and often inshore at night. The weirs have a lead line (or fence) which directs the herring into the indented opening (or mouth). Once inside the weir, the fish swim in a figure eight pattern always being directed away from the mouth by the curve of the netting (or twine). During daylight the fish can find the mouth and swim out so a net (or drop) is raised to keep the fish inside the weir until they can be removed. The fish are seined from the water using another net and a collection of boatsinside the weir. The seine boat crew manoeuvers around the inside of the weir, deploying the net into the water. Once completely around the bottom of the seine can be drawn tight (or pursed). The herring are then literally brought to the surface (or dried up) in the seine by bringing the seine back on board the seine boat. A vacuum hose on a pumper, a boat equipped with a vacuum pump, is used to suck the fish through a structure that separates the scales from the fish (the hopper) and transfers the fish to a herring carrier. The scales are collected in a large mesh bag or baskets. The scales are later transported to Eastport, ME, where they are
transformed into "Pearl Essence". Most herring carriers can also pump herring if a pumper is unavailable.
Lobsters - are a predatory clawed crustacean which can attain large sizes (64cm or 25" and over 13.5kg or 30lb). Lobsters are also scavengers. They have both a "pincer" and a "crusher" claw. Most lobsters are sold at a much smaller size. Lobsters were so common when the early Europeans explored the area that they reported picking them up along the shore at low water. Today lobsters are caught in baited traps or pots. The season in the Grand Manan archipelago begins the second Tuesday of November each year until the end of June. Traps are checked daily or when weather permits. Most traps are brought ashore in the coldest part of the winter when lobsters are less likely to wander into traps and when scallop draggers work close to the islands. Traps are set individually, in pairs or in trawls of 10 to 25 traps. Bait is usually salted or fresh herring depending on the time of year and preference of the fisher. Other fish may also be added to the bait mixture. The lobsters are banded when removed from the traps with rubber bands. At the end of the day they are then brought ashore and placed in wooden lobster crates which hold about 45kg or 100lb of table size lobsters. The crates are floated in structures called lobster cars for short periods until they are shipped elsewhere. Lobster fishing is regulated by licensing, designated fishing areas, seasonal closures, limits to the number of traps, minimum size allowable, returning to the water females carrying eggs
(berried females), and recording activities in fishing logs. Large structures for keeping lobsters for several months called pounds, can be found on Deer Island, in fact the first Lobster pound in North America was established on Beans Island - off Deer Island! Several lobster pounds together are capable of storing about 3,000,000 at any one time. These pounds are fenced areas in the intertidal area and the water level is controlled by flood gates. The lobsters are fed while captive although the claws are still banded to prevent fighting and injury.
(Thanks to Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station for much of the above information)
For more information;
Contact:
Winston Lambert
135 Hersonville Rd.,
Lambert's Cove, Deer Island, N.B., Canada
E5V-1C4
Tel:(506) 747-2426
E-Mail us: islandtours@yahoo.com
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(Page revised July 4 2005)
