Aquatic Research & Stewardship

Science paired with Mi'kmaq traditional knowledge is the key to UINR's aquatic research activities. This unique pairing has been called "Two-Eyed Seeing" and brings together the best of western science and traditional knowledge.

UINR's research is guided by our communities and the advice and guidance of our community's Elders. Our emphasis is research on species of concern to Mi'kmaq such as oyster, lobster, eel, gaspereau and other food fishing species. Species at Risk and invasive species are also of great concern at UINR.

Clean drinking water and marine water quality are an important part of our work. We are responsible for monitoring drinking water safety in our communities and check water quality weekly in four of our communities.

New Research Article on Eel Parasite Published

February 12, 2013News, Research

UINR is proud to announce the publication of our first research article in the journal BioInvasions Records of the Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre (REABIC). Distribution, prevalence and intensity of Anguillicoloides crassus in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, in the Bras d’Or Lakes, Nova Scotia was written by Shelley K. Denny, Angela Denny and Tyson … Read More

Kataq: Journey of Our Eels

December 10, 2012News, Research

A new children’s book was published today that tells the story of a Cape Breton eel from a Mi’kmaw perspective. Kataq: Journey of our Eels is illustrated by well-known artist Dozay Christmas and is written by Angela Denny and Shelley Denny of the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. The book is in English with side-by-side … Read More

Can salmon climb trees?

October 24, 2012Commerical Fisheries, Forestry, News, Research

At first glance it might be difficult to see the connection between salmon and trees, but a project by Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources–UINR, and Cape Breton Collaborative Salmon Initiative–CSI Cape Breton, hopes to change that. The partners are working on a cooperative salmon habitat restoration project that will see 2000 trees planted along the … Read More

UINR is Looking for Scientific Data on the SALMON Harvest

September 20, 2012Commerical Fisheries, News, Research

Data collection kits and information on how to collect the salmon’s length, origin (hatchery or wild), and scale samples for age can be picked up at your Guardian office. This will help us tell the salmon’s age, its age when it migrated to sea, how long it stayed there, and spawning information. Please contact your … Read More

SHELLFISH HARVESTING BAN

September 12, 2012News, Research

Due to the recent heavy rain Fisheries and Oceans Canada has placed a ban on shellfishing in the Bras d’Or Lakes, the Atlantic coastline of Guysborough and Richmond Counties, the shoreline from Guysborough to Halifax Counties and Cape North to Cape Smokey. The ban will likely be In place for a week to ten … Read More

Charlie Joe Dennis Launches

August 29, 2012Commerical Fisheries, News, People, Research

There’s a new fishing vessel sailing the seas around Unama’ki and people familiar with natural resources in Cape Breton will instantly recognize her name–Charlie Joe Dennis. It is appropriate that a man who has been so closely associated with Mi’kmaq fisheries all his life would receive this honour. The Eskasoni community gathered to celebrate at … Read More

UINR assists in invasive species study

July 18, 2012Commerical Fisheries, Guardian Program, News, Research

UINR is assisting on a study on invasive species in Blackett’s Lake. Two introduced species-chain pickerel and smallmouth bass-are in the lake and we are setting nets to see if they are migrating up the Seven Mile Brook. Nets will be set weekly until late September to determine if the species are present the brook. … Read More

Employment Opportunity at UINR

July 9, 2012Commerical Fisheries, News, Research

Commercial Fisheries Liason Officer Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources is looking for a qualified candidate to fill our Commercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinator position. This position is until March 31, 2013 with possibility of renewal. Candidates must have a minimum of five years direct demonstrated experience in commercial fisheries operations and two years of experience in … Read More

It's all about the people…Tyson Paul

July 8, 2012News, People, Research

While other kids in high school had posters of rock stars and hockey players on their bedroom walls, Tyson Paul, self-professed science geek, fell asleep under a poster of the periodic table! Always interested in the environment, Tyson knew from the start that he was headed for a career in science and it was after … Read More

Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge, Distribution of Culturally Significant Plants

June 8, 2012News, Research

If you are interested in important Mi’kmaq plants, you’re going to want to check out “Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge, Distribution of Culturally Significant Plants”, our new publication identifying plants and their habitats. The report is part of an extensive study that maps out where plants are located. It’s the final report of our two-year long study … Read More