Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a non-native fish species to Nova Scotia, was first

introduced to Nova Scotia waterbodies by the provincial government in 1942 (Catt 1949). In July
2019, River
River watershed is
approximately 1,344 km2, contains more than 200 lakes, and has been an historically, culturally,
and ecologically significant system on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. It is an important
watershed for Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), the latter of
which has been assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Until now, watershed has not been
impacted by aquatic invasive species such as Smallmouth Bass. In April 2020, the Nova Scotia
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) submitted an application to Fisheries and
Oceans Canada (DFO) Maritimes Region Aquatic Invasive Species Program seeking
authorization to apply rotenone to Piper Lake, Nova Scotia to eradicate Smallmouth Bass.
The Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations state that alternative measures and the impact on
fish and fish habitat or use of fish must be considered before authorizing the deposit of a
deleterious substance. To support the decision-making process, DFO Maritimes Region Aquatic
Invasive Species Program asked DFO Maritimes Region Science to review
application, and to provide advice on the following questions:
1. What is the impact of Smallmouth Bass in Piper Lake and the St. Mary's River
watershed if no control efforts occur? (potential harm to fish, fish habitat, or the use of
fish)
2. Is the proposed eradication strategy thought to be effective? (Alternate methods,
feasibility, monitoring, and contingency strategies)
3. What are the short- and long-term impacts of the deposit of rotenone? (loss of fish or
invertebrate species, re-establishment strategy effectiveness)
A similar request for advice was submitted to DFO Gulf Region Science in 2019 by the Gulf
Region Aquatic Invasive Species National Core Program in response to an application
submitted by a non-government organization to use rotenone for the purpose of eradicating
Smallmouth Bass from Miramichi Lake, New Brunswick. DFO Gulf Region Science prepared a
Science Response Report (DFO 2019) to review specific elements of the proponent
application. Due to the similar nature of the requests for advice in the Gulf and Maritimes
Regions, Maritimes Science is providing advice via a briefing memo. The advice provided by
Gulf Region in response to questions about the effectiveness of the eradication strategies using
rotenone, as well as, the short- and long-term impacts of the deposit of rotenone in Miramichi
Lake, New Brunswick are transferrable to the Piper Lake, Nova Scotia context. The specific

watershed have been responded to by Maritimes Region Science, with emphasis on the impact
on Atlantic Salmon and Atlantic Salmon habitat.
What is the impact of Smallmouth Bass in Piper Lake and the St. Mary's River
watershed if no control efforts occur?
Section 3.2 of the proponent application provides additional information relevant to this
question, and DFO Science Gulf Region addressed a similar request regarding proposed
eradication of a Smallmouth Bass invasion of Miramichi Lake (DFO 2019).
The proponent conducted fish sampling in Piper Lake in 2019 using boat and backpack
electrofishing, angling, and minnow pails. The following fish species were identified: Yellow
Perch (Perca flavescens), White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii), Creek Chub (Semotilus
atromaculatus), Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus),
American Eel (Anguilla rostrata), Banded Killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), and Brown Bullhead
(Ameiurus nebulosus).
The abundance of various species sampled in Piper Lake has not been assessed. However, as
noted in the review conducted by DFO Gulf Region Science (DFO 2019), it is anticipated that
the presence of Smallmouth Bass in Piper Lake will have measurable negative impacts on the
abundance and diversity of the fish community if efforts to control or eradicate the Smallmouth
Bass population do not proceed. As in the Miramichi Lake review (DFO 2019), the presence of
American Eel would be a result of upstream migration from the sea. The impact of Smallmouth
Bass on American Eel has not been documented. It is thought that passage of American Eel in
and out of Piper Lake is not restricted by the barrier, and it is distributed throughout the St.
negative impact of Smallmouth Bass on American Eel
in Piper Lake is likely low.
Neither Brook Trout nor Atlantic Salmon were encountered during the 2019 sampling efforts
conducted by the proponent in Piper Lake. The absence of a thermocline in Piper Lake, and
restricted fish passage due to a pre-existing beaver dam, make the habitat in Piper Lake less
desirable for salmonid species. However,
Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon and both salmonid species were captured between 500-1000m
downstream of Piper Lake.DFO Maritimes Region Science Staff have been conducting various
since the 1970s and have detailed
records of the presence of Atlantic Salmon in the watershed. This population of Atlantic Salmon
is part of the Southern Upland Designatable Unit that was assessed as Endangered by the
COSEWIC.
Piper Lake flows into a small unnamed brook that flows into Castley Brook, a tributary to the
DFO
Science electrofishing sites in Castley Brook, upstream of its confluence with the brook below
Piper Lake. The most recent DFO Science electrofishing survey in Castley Brook was 1985, and
current status at those locations is unknown. However, DFO Science staff from the Coldbrook
Biodiversity Facility have released captive reared Atlantic Salmon fry at a site upstream of the
confluence of Castley Brook and the , approximately 5 km
downstream from the confluence of Castley Brook and the unnamed brook below Piper Lake.
The Atlantic Salmon parr observed by the proponent in July and August of 2019, approximately
1 km downstream of Piper Lake, are considered to be the offspring of wild spawning Atlantic
Salmon given the distance from the site that captive reared fry were released by DFO Science
staff. This provides evidence that Castley Brook continues to support wild returning Atlantic
Salmon.
Adult Atlantic Salmon
though smolt assessments have continued
River continues to support a wild Atlantic Salmon population; however, it is likely this population
is below the Conservation Egg Requirement for a healthy Atlantic Salmon watershed.
Many factors can mediate the impact of Smallmouth Bass on native fishes, and impacts can
range in magnitude from small to large depending on local context (Valois et al. 2009).
Research in Maine has shown evidence of shifts in habitat use by Atlantic Salmon in the
presence of Smallmouth Bass (Wathen et al. 2011, 2012). Given the proximity of Atlantic
Salmon juvenile rearing habitat and spawning sites to Piper Lake, and the small size of the

watershed), a range expansion of Smallmouth Bass is

anticipated to have a negative impact on Atlantic Salmon through predation and competition.
The available habitat may offer little opportunity for juvenile Atlantic Salmon to shift their habitat
use to avoid Smallmouth Bass. The establishment of Smallmouth Bass in lake or large pool
habitat further downstream in the watershed may affect Atlantic Salmon during the smolt
migration, representing a novel predation risk during this vulnerable life stage.
Based on the anticipated negative impacts to native fish populations, including Southern Upland
Atlantic Salmon, r watershed it is
critical that Smallmouth Bass are contained and eradicated from Piper Lake to remove the risk
of population expansion.

Is the proposed eradication strategy thought to be effective?

A review of eradication strategies conducted by Halfyard et al. (2010) suggested that chemical
treatments for eradication of invasive fish species offers the highest probability of success. In
addition, it was concluded that complete eradication is most effective when pairing chemical
applications with other control methods, such as physical barriers.
Based on the small size of the affected system, and the goal of 100% eradication of Smallmouth
Bass, rotenone application appears to be an effective solution. Pairing the rotenone application
with physical barriers is expected to further increase the effectiveness of the containment and
eradication, as proposed in the proponent application. Alternative methods, such as removals
through angling and electrofishing, are effective tools to control population sizes, but are often
inadequate for complete eradication and are labour intensive. Similarly, the application of
physical barriers, such as screens, to prevent downstream expansion can limit large adult
passage, if applied correctly, but are often inadequate in containing the movement of juveniles
and preventing range expansion. Following the discovery of Smallmouth Bass in Piper Lake, the
proponent implemented several strategies that generally followed existing rapid response
frameworks recommended by DFO and often used by provincial jurisdictions when responding
to aquatic invasive species. Control measures employed included containment, physical
removals (angling and electrofishing), and partial dewatering to reduce overwintering success.
The proponent conducted these activities to provide temporary containment and population
control. These actions alone were not expected to eradicate Smallmouth Bass.
Rytwinski et al. (2018) reported that eradication through chemical treatment of rotenone was
successful in 75% of documented initiatives, compared to electrofishing and passive removal
approaches having success in 58% of the documented initiatives. Among the successful
eradications using rotenone treatment, a second application of rotenone was required in one
quarter of cases. Following the application of rotenone treatments, it is recommended that
thorough post-treatment surveys are conducted to confirm eradication and evaluate the need for
follow-up treatments if eradication is not complete. The proponent has proposed a 3-5 year
monitoring plan.
Given the difficulties with species eradication following expansion from closed systems, control
measures may be more successful if implemented prior to late summer/fall when increased
precipitation presents a higher risk of water levels breaching the containment of Piper Lake,
creating an opportunity for downstream spread of Smallmouth Bass.
Additional surveys downstream of Piper Lake would be useful before treating to ensure that
Smallmouth Bass have not breached the containment barrier, but not if this would delay the
process for the application of rotenone. eDNA can be a useful tool to detect presence and track
the spread of aquatic invasive species. The eDNA evidence
application was inconclusive, due to both suspected false positives and suspected false
negatives in the results. The results of the eDNA testing should be interpreted with caution.
Piper Lake is thought to be the source population of Smallmouth Bass in the watershed. If
detection of early spread of Smallmouth Bass downstream is confirmed, rotenone treatment of
the lake population would still be recommended provided additional measures are taken to
eradicate individuals in the stream.

What are the short- and long-term impacts of the deposit of rotenone?
Section 4.3 of the proponent application provides additional information relevant to this
question.
Fish production will be zero if the proposed rotenone treatment kills all fish in Piper Lake.
Without colonization from feeder streams or from downstream, fish production will remain at
zero until fish recolonize the lake (DFO 2019). There is no baseline information presented on
the species composition or abundances of the invertebrate community in Piper Lake. The
proponent has indicated that the benthic invertebrate community and zooplankton will be
sampled before rotenone treatment to obtain a reference collection.
The proponent has proposed the use of Yellow Perch as an indicator species to confirm that
treatment was sufficient to kill the target species. Yellow Perch will be placed in cages
throughout the lake to monitor the impact of the rotenone during the treatment process and to
test effectiveness of rotenone through all areas of the lake. Following treatment, continuation of
this monitoring method is being proposed to indicate when fish life can be supported in the lake.
The proponent has noted that timing of the treatment process may coincide with thick
macrophyte vegetation in the lake that could limit the dispersal of the rotenone treatment. If the
Yellow Perch monitoring demonstrates a partial kill, a second treatment that would occur in the
fall when the vegetation has died back is being proposed by the proponent. If possible, cutting
back of the macrophyte vegetation is recommended in advance of treatment to improve the
dispersal of the rotenone.
Re-establishment strategies proposed by the proponent are based on natural recolonization and

Species dispersal abilities and the proximity of source populations are expected to affect the
timelines for recolonization (DFO 2019). Given the limited connectivity of Piper Lake, natural
colonization of fish species may be slow if supplementation is not conducted.
Concentrations of rotenone that are sufficient to kill fish are also lethal to many benthic
invertebrates. It is expected that aquatic invertebrates in Piper Lake will be substantially
reduced in abundance and possibly complete eradication as was put forward in the Miramichi
Lake review (DFO 2019). It is expected that re-colonization of some aquatic invertebrates will
naturally occur, but timelines are not known. The eradication initiative could be treated as a re-
establishment experiment by the proponent to further understand and document the
re-establishment rates of native faunal communities post-piscicide treatment as recommended
in the Miramichi Lake review (DFO 2019). This could provide information to assist management
decisions for future eradication actions.
Since Atlantic Salmon are not present in the proposed treatment area, it is unlikely the treatment
will have any direct impact on the species. Juvenile Atlantic Salmon may rely on invertebrates
transported downstream from Piper Lake as a prey base, though it is not possible to measure
the impact due to the lack of baseline data on the trophic contribution of invertebrates
transported from Piper Lake.

The proposed approach is consistent with established practices for the control of aquatic
invasive species.
Control measures may be more successful if implemented prior to late summer or fall when
increased precipitation presents a higher risk of water levels breaching the containment of
Piper Lake, creating an opportunity for downstream spread of Smallmouth Bass.
detrimental to Atlantic
Salmon.
eDNA can be a useful tool to detect presence and track the spread of aquatic invasive
species. The n is inconclusive due to
false positives and false negatives. On that evidence alone, it is unclear whether or not the
spread of Smallmouth Bass beyond Piper Lake has occurred.
Additional surveys downstream of Piper Lake would be useful before treating, but not if this
delays the proposed eradication activities.
If Piper Lake is acting as a source population, and if even minor spread downstream has
occurred, there would still be value in the treatment of the lake provided additional measures
are taken to eradicate individuals in the stream.
Thorough post-treatment surveys are advised to confirm eradication (and prior to treatment
to confirm lack of spread, if possible).

Name Affiliation
Dustin Raab DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Rod Bradford DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Andrew Taylor DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Tara McIntyre DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Tana Worcester DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Lottie Bennett DFO Science, Maritimes Region
Matthew Hardy DFO Science, Gulf Region
Mark LaFlamme DFO Science, Gulf Region
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Canadian Fish Culturist 4: 15-18.
DFO. 2019. Review of elements of proponent application to use rotenone for the purpose of
eradicating Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from Miramichi Lake, New Brunswick.
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