Abstract:
Executive Summary
The objectives of the Canadian portion of the project were to;
1. Determine the presence and estimate the prevalence of fish parasites and pathogens in resident fish from Lake
Winnipeg;
2. Provide a comprehensive, and scientifically credible survey of fish parasites and pathogens in fish from Lake
Winnipeg that may be used in performing risk analysis associated with transfer of fish parasites and pathogens
from the outlet on Devils Lake to aquatic ecosystems in the Red River basin including Lake Winnipeg; and
3. Use the comprehensive survey offish collected during this proposed survey to meet the overall framework
for biological monitoring in the Red River basin that is included in the "Work Plan" of the International Red
River Board.
The purpose ofthis particular portion of the project (and the subject of this interim report) was to perform a fish
health survey of 10 species offish from Lake Winnipeg using light microscopy. Sixty fish from each species
(with the exception that only 7 channel catfish were caught) were examined. This is an interim report, and only
the results of the survey are included. The final report will follow a similar format but will include additional
fish ('spring 07' collection), the methods used, and interpretation based on the literature.
