Four surf smelt eggs have been found in Victoria Harbour’s Lime Bay, where habitat was recently restored to lure the silvery fish back. It’s not many, but it was enough for biologists to celebrate.
Four surf smelt eggs — so tiny you need a microscope to spot them — have been found in Victoria Harbour’s Lime Bay, where habitat was recently restored to lure the silvery fish back.
Fish eggs also serve as food for shorebirds — the harbour is part of a migratory bird sanctuary, where birds can stop to feed during their journeys. But much of it has been altered and polluted by heavy industry and development over the years. Areas where Lekwungen people once harvested food were filled in, and large rocks now line parts of the shoreline.
In the spring, the plan is to excavate a little farther back to make room for smaller materials such as sands and lighter gravels. Large wood debris will anchor it, with boulders and native plants as well, potentially. The fill was hauled out and “fish friendly” round small gravel in different sizes was put down to create a more natural habitat and appearance, Armstrong said.Biologists were back at Lime Bay this week to take samples from sand in another egg hunt. The sand is run through three sieves and swirled in a vortex. Water, hopefully containing eggs, is run through a filter. Samples are taken from the filter to be checked under a microscope.
Eggs incubate between two to eight weeks. Most surf smelts will mature to spawn in their second year and may spawn again in the future, Armstrong said.