Hook, line, but not sinking

Fishing has played an important role in the history of Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site – from traditional food gathering by the Mi’kmaq, to guided fishing trips before the park was established. The park’s pristine waters and intact aquatic communities are considered a regional gem because many other watersheds in Nova Scotia have been negatively affected by the introduction of non-native smallmouth bass and chain pickerel. Invasions by these species have had profound impacts on ecosystems; smallmouth bass and chain pickerel are voracious food consumers that outcompete or eat native species. Both species are now found in neighbouring watersheds, where they pose a direct risk to the park’s freshwater ecosystems, including native populations of brook trout and American eel.