Internship Spotlight: Sinead Addis
This summer, I will be interning for the Margaree Salmon Association (MSA) in the Margaree Valley, Cape Breton. The MSA is a nonprofit environmental organization that prioritizes the conservation and protection of Atlantic salmon populations. Atlantic salmon is a culturally significant species that also plays an integral role in shaping ecosystems and supporting biodiversity.
A current threat facing the Margaree River is the increased presence of smallmouth bass — a well-known aquatic invasive species in Nova Scotia. To help control the spread of this species, in 2024, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture implemented a mandatory retention and humane euthanasia order for smallmouth bass in the Margaree Valley. Yet, it is unknown whether anglers are adhering to this new order, and what is being done with the retained smallmouth bass (i.e., food, compost, etc.).
Sinead Addis hiking the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Photo by G. Tucker (2024).
This summer, I plan to conduct semi-structured interviews in the Margaree Valley to help answer these questions and understand how different stakeholders have perceived and responded to the mandatory retention order. This human dimensions project will be among the first conducted for the MSA, and the results from this study may help to inform future smallmouth bass management plans in Nova Scotia.
Throughout the summer, I will also be conducting various fieldwork duties as part of my internship. With MSA, I plan to assist with salmon snorkel surveys, deploying temperature loggers, and assessing different habitat characteristics—all important pieces for understanding and protecting local salmon populations. I will also be assisting the Semeniuk Lab team to set up fyke nets, angle and tag smallmouth bass, and conduct educational outreach initiatives with local schools. Special thanks to Mitacs and the MSA for co-funding this internship.
Sinead Addis collecting benthic macroinvertebrates in the Kawartha Watershed, Ontario.
Photo by B. Tregunno (2022).
Post by Sinead Addis