Multispecies Use of Restored Habitat in Toronto Harbour

Widespread development has led to impairment of freshwater coastal embayments, which provide critical and unique habitat for most fish species. In the Toronto Harbour Area of Concern (AOC), restoration efforts have been directed towards improving the amount and quality of fish habitat in the harbour. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this restoration work, it is important to determine whether both target species (e.g., walleye) and the fish community as a whole are using restored areas. From 2012 to 2014, eighty-five individuals from six species (common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch) were tagged and tracked using a large acoustic telemetry array in Toronto Harbour. We present results from this ongoing embayment-wide study evaluating: 1) the use of restored areas by these six species based on occupancy models and 2) species-specific movement patterns among coastal embayments and between the inner and outer harbour sections. Results from this study will help determine the success of past restoration efforts in the Toronto Harbour and inform the development of future restoration projects.