Lawrence Ruben effortlessly drills into the thick ice of the Hornaday River near Paulatuk, N.W.T., using an electric auger. Within seconds, water and crushed ice surge to the surface as he withdraws the spiraled blade. Amused, he jokingly refers to the auger as “the best contraption since sliced bread” to his daughter before moving on to the next hole.
Located just an ATV ride away from Paulatuk, the Hornaday River is where Ruben and his wife have built a cozy cabin for relaxation and Arctic char fishing. Despite their efforts, on a recent outing with their daughter and son-in-law, they had no luck. Ruben, a member of the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee, noted the shifting patterns of Arctic char movements in the region, leading to unpredictable fishing outcomes.
To address these changes, the community has partnered with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on a research initiative. Last July, they caught and tagged 38 Arctic char with acoustic monitors at various locations around Darnley Bay. These tags emit signals detected by receivers placed in the Arctic Ocean to track the fish’s movements accurately.
Federal scientists and local harvesters meticulously implanted transmitter tags into the char, enabling the collection of crucial data on their behavior. The goal is to gain insights into the char’s habitat preferences and migration patterns, especially in response to environmental changes in the Arctic region.
With the Arctic undergoing rapid transformations, including diminishing sea ice and altered seasonal cycles, understanding the char’s adaptations is vital. The acoustic tags, lasting up to four years, will provide valuable information on the fish’s interactions with their evolving ecosystem.
In addition to acoustic monitoring, receivers are planned to be deployed in freshwater lakes connected to Darnley Bay to enhance data collection. This long-term monitoring project aims to shed light on critical aspects of the char’s life cycle, offering valuable insights into their survival strategies amid changing environmental conditions.
Ruben highlighted the impact of climate change on local ecosystems, recalling significant shifts observed since 2010. Accelerated ice melt and riverbank erosion have affected the char’s spawning grounds, posing challenges for their survival. Despite these challenges, Ruben emphasized the cultural and subsistence significance of Arctic char to the community of Paulatuk, underscoring its irreplaceable role in their way of life.
