NERB Volume 1 Issue 1: Impacts of Linear Development on Fish

The NWT Environmental Research Bulletins (NERB) are series of brief plain language summaries of various environmental research findings in the Northwest Territories. If you’re conducting environmental research in the NWT, consider sharing your information with northern residents in a bulletin. These research summaries are also of use to northern resource decision-makers. Impacts of Linear Development on Fish Linear developments such as roads, pipelines and seismic lines usually cross water bodies. This can have an impact on fish and fish habitat. Impacts can include the blocking of migration routes that prevents fish from feeding, spawning and accessing over-wintering areas, or contamination from leaks and spills that poison fish or the food fish eat.