Assessing Progress on the Restoration of Fish Consumption Beneficial Use in the Bay of Quinte

Session: 06. - Ecosystem Health and Recovery of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario

Jeff Ridal, St. Lawrence River Institute, of Environmental Sciences, [email protected]
Matthew Windle, St. Lawrence River Inst., [email protected]
Neil Dempster, St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, [email protected]
Jim Hoyle, ON Ministry of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Satyendra Bhavsar, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]

Abstract

The Bay of Quinte provides critical fish habitat within the Lake Ontario system and is highly valued by residents and tourists for angling and sports fishing. Historically, local inputs of highly bioaccumulating contaminants, particularly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and poly-chlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxins (PCDDs), resulted in elevated contaminant concentrations in fish. Ensuing restrictions on fish consumption were deemed to be an impaired beneficial use (BUI) under the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan for the Area of Concern (AOC). A Fish Consumption Working Group (FCWG) has worked closely with provincial and federal agencies over the past decade to identify sampling and analysis needs, and document the recovery of the IBU resulting from remedial actions taken within the AOC to abate contaminant sources.  This presentation will outline the recent work of the FCWG to align its fish delisting criteria with generic wording adopted for Canadian AOCs and to apply a multi-tier decision framework to assess the current status of the IBU.

1. Keyword
fish

2. Keyword
biomagnification

3. Keyword
environmental contaminants