Fish Mortality and its Population-Level Impacts at the Annapolis Tidal Hydroelectric Generating Station, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: a Review of Existing Scientific Literature A. Jamie F. Gibson, Samantha J. Fulton and Danni Harper Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Maritimes Region Bedford Institute of Oceanography 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2 2019 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3305 1 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Technical reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which is not normally appropriate for primary literature. Technical reports are directed primarily toward a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. 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Les demandes de rapports seront satisfaites par l'établissement auteur dont le nom figure sur la couverture et la page du titre. Les numéros 1 à 456 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 457 à 714 sont parus à titre de Rapports techniques de la Direction générale de la recherche et du développement, Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère de l'Environnement. Les numéros 715 à 924 ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environnement. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 925. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3305 2019 Fish Mortality and its Population-Level Impacts at the Annapolis Tidal Hydroelectric Generating Station, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: a Review of Existing Scientific Literature By A. Jamie F. Gibson1 , Samantha J. Fulton1 and Danni Harper2 1Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Maritimes Region Bedford Institute of Oceanography P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2 2P.O. Box 115, Acadia University Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2019 Cat. No. Fs-97-6/3305E- PDF ISBN 978-0-660-30513-4 ISSN 1488-5379 Correct citation for this publication: Gibson, A.J.F., Fulton, S.J., and Harper, D. 2019. Fish mortality and its population-level impacts at the Annapolis Tidal Hydroelectric Generating Station, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: a review of existing scientific literature. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3305: vi + 90 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ iv RÉSUMÉ .................................................................................................................................... v INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 REVIEW...................................................................................................................................... 2 TOR 1: DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNAPOLIS TIGS . ............................................................ 2 Facility Description ............................................................................................................. 2 Description of Fishways...................................................................................................... 3 Operation ........................................................................................................................... 3 TOR 2: SEARCH EFFORT .................................................................................................... 4 TOR 3: DESCRIPTION OF THE FISH COMMUNITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE ANNAPOLIS TIGS ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Fish .................................................................................................................................... 6 Marine mammals and sea turtles ........................................................................................ 8 TOR 4: FISHWAY UTILIZATION STUDIES ..........................................................................16 Alosa migration studies in 1985 and 1986 .........................................................................16 Juvenile Alosa study in 1989 .............................................................................................16 Juvenile Alosa studies in 1993 and 1994 ...........................................................................17 Fish diversion and mortality study in 1999 .........................................................................18 Summary of fishway utilization studies ..............................................................................18 TOR 5: FISH TURBINE MORTALITY STUDIES AT THE ANNAPOLIS TIGS .......................19 Observational records .......................................................................................................19 Turbine mortality rates for adult American Shad ................................................................20 Turbine mortality rates for young-of-the-year clupeids in 1985 and 1986 ...........................21 Acute turbine mortality rates for 12 species at the Annapolis TiGS ....................................22 Summary of fish mortality studies ......................................................................................24 TOR 6: STUDIES EVALUATING POPULATION-LEVEL IMPACTS OF FISH MORTALITY AT THE ANNAPOLIS TIGS ........................................................................................................24 American Shad ..................................................................................................................24 Striped Bass ......................................................................................................................27 Atlantic Sturgeon ...............................................................................................................28 Summary of population studies .........................................................................................29 TOR 7: FISH DIVERSION STUDIES AT THE ANNAPOLIS TIGS .........................................29 Fish diversion studies in 1988 and 1989 ............................................................................29 Fish diversion studies in 1999 ...........................................................................................31 Summary of Fish Diversion Studies ...................................................................................32 TOR 8: RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................32 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................35 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................ 36 APPENDIX: SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................................... 50 iii ABSTRACT Gibson, A.J.F., Fulton, S.J., and Harper, D. 2019. Fish mortality and its population-level impacts at the Annapolis Tidal Hydroelectric Generating Station, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: a review of existing scientific literature. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3305: vi + 90 p. The purpose of this document is to provide a summary and evaluation of the scientific literature pertaining to the mortality of fish at the Annapolis Tidal Generating Station (Annapolis TiGS) and the population-level impacts associated