This project consists of gathering data that informs us about the health of freshwater fish. The Freshwater Fish Ecowatch Network project is carried out by young people from some twenty-six schools, mostly high schools, located along the River and its tributaries.
Project Description
Local Coordination
The Ecowatchers
Where Are They?
Fish Tales!
Regional Coordinator
The aim of this project is to get young people involved in their environment, make them aware of the scientific approach and provide them with a unique learning experience. The information gathered by students are also indicators of the health of fish in the ecosystem, which may eventually help to direct the scientific community’s research.
The project’s main activity is centered on field trips. During these outdoor sessions, students and teachers catch the fish using a beach seine-net and examine them in order to 
gather data on blindness, parasitism and external anomalies. The data are then sent to the Biosphère, which shares them with the scientific community through articles and conferences, as well as with the public through its exhibits and the Internet.
Beforehand, the teachers participate in a one-day training session given by the Biosphère. This theoretical and practical training deals with various aspects of the project and the organization of the students’ work. A detailed 
participation kit guides teachers through the different steps of the project (in-class preparation, administration, field trips, etc.). Throughout the project and during the field trips, participants also have access to the expertise of Scientific Advisors from the Biosphère.
Between 1996 and 2001, the participation of several new schools was made possible by Shell Canada's financial contribution.
The expansion of the Freshwater Fish Ecowatch Network (FFEN), a resounding success! To encourage more young people to participate, the architects of the FFEN program came up with the idea of having local coordinators look after program logistics in various regions, thereby increasing its impact. The local coordinators are completely devoted to the cause, encouraging awareness, broadening knowledge and taking positive action to conserve riparian ecosystems. In addition, their presence promotes links between participating schools and the community.
Local coordinators supervise FFEN activities in their regions. They follow up on the program with participating schools and institutions, offer the necessary logistical and scientific support, accompany participating groups on their fishing trips, and make the local community aware of the results of the participants’ work. On top of all that, they play a leading role as the contact between FFEN’s participating institutions and Environment Canada’s Biosphère.
It’s great to have some assistance, but we will make sure the FFEN family stays “close-knit”. Even though local coordinators play a role that the Biosphère previously assumed alone, the FFEN is still one of its well-cared-for “pet projects.” The Biosphère is committed to maintaining close ties with its local coordinators. In addition, as soon as new developments arise, the Biosphère informs all of its members. “United We Stand!” could be the FFEN’s motto.
The Biosphère is pleased to announce that the Comité ZIP des Seigneuries became the first local coordinator of the Freshwater Fish Ecowatch Network in 2005, and they will be coordinating the FFEN participants which are present within their territory.
Young people, mostly from secondary 3, 4 and 5 (grades 9, 10 and 11), college and university students, and some groups from secondary 1 and 2 (grades 7 and 8), from the following schools:
Académie Antoine Manseau, Joliette
Académie Lafontaine, Lafontaine
Biodôme de Montréal (Camp de jour des Aquanautes), Montréal
Bishop's University, Lennoxville
Centre d'apprentissage personnalisé (CAP), Longueuil
Collège Saint-Paul, Varennes
Comité Zone d’Intervention Prioritaire des Seigneuries, Joliette
École polyvalente Saint-Jérôme, Saint-Jérôme
École secondaire André-Laurendeau, Longueuil (Saint-Hubert)
École secondaire Bernard-Gariépy, Sorel-Tracy
École secondaire Chavigny, Trois-Rivières (Trois-Rivières-Ouest)
École secondaire Des Lacs, Ste-Cécile de Masham
École secondaire Des Pionniers, Pav. De-La-Salle, Trois-Rivières
École secondaire Des Sources, Montreal (Dollard-des-Ormeaux)
École secondaire Félix-Leclerc, Repentigny
École secondaire Frenette, Saint-Jérôme
École secondaire Gérard-Filion, Longueuil
École secondaire Jean-Baptiste Meilleur, Repentigny
École secondaire Jean-Raimbault, Drummondville
École secondaire L’Assomption, Trois-Rivières (Cap-de-la-Madeleine)
École secondaire Mgr-A.-M.-Parent, Longueuil (Saint-Hubert)
École secondaire Polybel, Beloeil
McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Montreal (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue)
Polyvalente Hyacinthe-Delorme, Saint-Hyacinthe
Université d’Ottawa, Faculté d’éducation, Ottawa (Ont.)
Polyvalente Hyacinthe-Delorme, Saint-Hyacinthe
Vanier College, Montreal (Saint-Laurent)
West Island College, Montreal (Dollard-des-Ormeaux)
The FFEN is made up of groups of young people from twenty-six educational institutions stretching from Ottawa to Trois-Rivières. To discover where these institutions are located within the St. Lawrence watershed consult the map.
Click on the image to show a larger map.
Fish Tales!
Paranormal phenomena? A miracle produced by the alignment of the planets? All we can guess is that the fishing gods are watching over FFEN participants! Considering the size of the catches, the number of fish caught each time the net is hauled in and the unusual species captured over the years, some people might be forgiven for thinking that the enthusiastic fisherman are exaggerating. In fact, the skeptics will be amazed because we have photographic proof. Given the exceptional number of catches, we thought we should document these fabulous fishing stories on the FFEN page of our Web site. While waiting to be part of the stuff of FFEN’s legends yourself, be sure to check out our Fish Tales!
Mrs Lucie Roy Biologist
160, chemin. Tour-de-l’Isle
Île Sainte-Hélène
Montréal (Québec)
H3C 4G8
Tel : (514) 496-4479
Fax : (514) 283-5021
Toll-free : 1-888-758-0000
E-mail : roped.biosphere@ec.gc.ca or
lucie.roy@ec.gc.ca
