The Land Use and Occupancy Mapping data collected has helped with the development of the Baseline Assessment Program on Health and the Environment (BAPHE) study that is currently being conducted by Nipissing First Nation's Environment Department.
The study focuses on fish species being consumed by NFN members in key waterbodies known to be harvested by NFN fisheries such as walleye (pickerel), yellow perch, northern pike and lake trout from Lake Nipissing, Mud Lake, Tea Lake, Wawiashkashi Lake, Lake Manitou and Muskosung Lake as well as the Sturgeon River.
The goal is to better understand and be aware of the potential health risks to community members who rely on fish as a dietary staple. By gathering baseline data on mercury levels in fish commonly consumed by NFN members in land use areas outside of Lake Nipissing.
Once the information is obtained, revisions to guidelines on healthy consumption recommendations may be possible. Furthermore, the data can be saved for future health comparisons.
To watch a video with Nipissing First Nation's Environment Manager, Curtis Avery and Dean Fitzgerald, an Ecologist and owner of Integrated Ecosystem Solutions, describe the project, simply copy and paste the link below into your search bar.
https://youtu.be/J-FtwWcm_Yw
