La pêcheAu Canada, l’habitat du poisson est un élément essentiel de la sécurité et de la durabilité de la pêche en eau douce et en mer. Il est toutefois très facile pour les activités humaines qui se déroulent dans l’eau, près de l’eau ou avec de l’eau de porter atteinte à l’habitat du poisson et de le détruire.

Contaminant Accumulation in Fish

Child FishingThere are many naturally occurring substances that are found in our air, water and food, such as mercury, lead, copper, arsenic. At very low levels they pose no threat to the environment or human health. However, at elevated levels they can become harmful. The same is true for a number of human-made substances that have managed to find their way into our environment and into our food chain. When these substances enter the aquatic environment they can be absorbed by fish, directly from the water or in their food. If the substance is not excreted by the fish it can bioaccumulate, which is an increase in the concentration of a substance over time in a biological organism as a result of continued exposure.

Federal Regulations And Responsibilities

There are numerous ways in which our activities can have a detrimental effect on fish and their habitat; however there are also a number of ways that we can protect them.