Great Lakes Research

The Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (GLLFAS), a research division of the Central and Arctic Region of DFO, is located at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW) in Burlington, Ontario. A satellite GLLFAS group is located at the Sea Lamprey Control Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. GLLFAS has approximately 25 staff who conduct freshwater fisheries research in support of DFO priorities related to fish habitat, sea lamprey and the Great Lakes Action Plan, and who provide scientific advice to clients and co-operators.

Current priority research efforts include:

• Effects of habitat alterations on the productive capacity of fish habitat
• Effects of nutrients and exotic species on the productive capacity of the open waters of the Great Lakes
• Impact of exotic species of Great Lakes ecosystems and fish communities
• Accumulation and effects of toxic chemicals on Great Lakes organisms
• Rehabilitation of rare and endangered fish species

GLLFAS staff and projects are loosely organized into four groups, tackling complementary and overlapping topics: Fish Habitat Studies, Trophic Dynamics, Fisheries Production, and Ecotoxicology. Individual projects usually draw members from more than one group and often involve collaboration with other institutions and agencies. Numerous collaborations, partnerships, and interactions with graduate students, interns, and contractors greatly expand the numbers of people contributing to research productivity and success at GLLFAS.

Related Links:

• Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project
• Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) Study