The online resource for Ontario’s Fisheries Professionals since 2002

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About the OFFLHD

This website came about as a result of an initiative which began more than two decades ago. My profession as a Fisheries Biologist, combined with a personal interest in native freshwater fishes, fuelled a desire to maintain current knowledge of fish life history information, distribution and conservation status in Ontario. The primary source of information used by Ontario biologists is Freshwater Fishes of Canada by W.B. Scott and E.J. Crossman originally published in 1973. Two reprints (1979 and 1998) included “Author’s Comments”, providing brief notes on species new to the fauna since 1973 and 1979, respectively. Since that time, Ontario’s freshwater fish fauna has undergone significant change. Several invading species have become established while many native species have experienced expansion or reduction in their distribution and/or general abundance. Some species have been designated as species at risk, while others have been de-listed. In addition, supplementary life history information for many species has been published and changes in nomenclature have occurred. There was a need to synthesize the new information and provide an account for each species that included key life history parameters as well as current conservation status and distribution for all Ontario freshwater species, including the adjacent Great Lakes.

In early 1999, I began to compile some basic life history information for Ontario’s freshwater fishes into a database, which would facilitate easier access to pertinent information not otherwise available in a single source. A decision to share this information via the Internet led to the creation of The Ontario Freshwater Fishes Life History Database in late 1999. That early version was published using Microsoft DBWeb, which provided a basic web interface. In early 2002, version 2.0 was published using MySQL and PHP. This edition included significant additional life history information and provided a much more aesthetic presentation. In 2007, version number 3.0 was assigned due to the large number new references and material added since 2002. In 2009, capitalization of the first letter of common names, AFS status and the Nipigon Cisco (Coregonus nipigon) were incorporated into the database. In 2010, two additional species, Smallmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) and Chain Pickerel (Esox niger), were added due to recent occurrences within Ontario waters. In 2011, version 4.0 was published following a redesign of the species detail page and the inclusion of the River Shiner (Notropis blennius). Version 5.0 was published in 2020 which included the addition of Tench (Tinca tinca), a revision of the Family Cyprinidae and the inclusion of length-weight regression coefficients for most species. In 2023, Longjaw Cisco (Coregonus alpenae), previously recognized as a synomyn of C. zenithicus, was included. To date, information has been compiled from more than 210 sources, including books, peer-reviewed scientific papers, and reputable on-line resources, as well as some unpublished data collected over the course of my professional career. The database is frequently updated as new information becomes available. In 2022, the OFFLHD celebrated 20 years as the online resource for Ontario's Fisheries Professionals.

Data compiled for the database were also used to prepare a book entitled Handbook of Ontario Freshwater Fishes including adjacent Great Lakes. This handbook contains current information pertaining to life history, habitat, size and age, distribution, status, reproduction and nomenclature for 156 species, 3 subspecies and 2 established hybrids including introduced, extirpated and extinct species. Specimen photographs, range maps, notes, information sources and glossary of terms are also provided. Wherever possible, information specific to Ontario and/or Great Lakes populations were utilized. This handbook will be of value to professional biologists, fisheries managers, environmental consultants, students, naturalists, anglers, as well as anyone with an interest in Ontario’s freshwater fish fauna, which includes four of the five Great Lakes. Those who use or develop Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBI) to assess aquatic ecosystem health using fish community assemblage, will appreciate the classification of each species according to many of the commonly used metrics. Since the majority of Ontario’s fish species have a larger range throughout North America, the handbook will also be of wider interest. I am currently seeking a publisher.

Ontario’s freshwater fish fauna is changing. Introduction of exotic species, bait-bucket transfer, habitat alteration and climate change, all have the potential to affect the distribution of freshwater fish species in Ontario. Many changes have already taken place, including species that have expanding their range, whereas others have become extirpated or extinct. These changes will continue and additional life history information will be learned that will supplement existing data. I welcome any such information and would encourage you to contact me.

I graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College, School of Natural Resources in 1988 with a Fish & Wildlife Technical Diploma. After a brief contract with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources during the summer of 1988, I have been employed in the private sector as an environmental consultant ever since. Presently I am a Senior Fisheries Ecologist and Associate with Ecometrix where my work experience has included fisheries projects all across Canada, the United States, Peru and Panama. My current professional activities include the duties of webmaster for the Ontario Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and I am also a collaborator to FishBase. My contact information is provided below.

Robert J. Eakins, Tech. Dipl., F&W

Associate, Senior Fisheries Ecologist

Ecometrix

6800 Campobello Road

Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2L8

Tel: (905) 794-2325  Fax: (905) 794-2338

Last update:  01 April 2023