Collection (sampling or transport) of stranded beluga carcasses on the shores of the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) in 2015 to 2018 (4 years).

Collection (sampling or transport) of stranded beluga carcasses on the shores of the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) in 2015 to 2018 (4 years).

OBJECTIVE

Sample on the beach or transport stranded SLE beluga for a post-mortem exam to the Faculté médecine vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe. Data and collected samples (see Annexes) will be preserved and delivered to the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (MLI). All necessary material for sampling will be provided by the DFO and Robert Michaud (GREMM).

SCOPE : Sampling of SLE beluga carcasses stranded in the St. Lawrence Estuary on the beach (if the carcass is judged in poor condition or not accessible) or transport of beluga carcasses for a necropsy (if the carcass is judged adequate for a necropsy) to the Faculté médecine vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe is required for each carcass.

REQUIREMENTS

This study’s objective is to collect the following data for each SLE beluga carcass sampled on the beach or transported for a necropsy (see Annexes):

See Annex A for requested samples for each beluga sampled on the beach. See Annex B for a description of the protocol for collection of photos and skin for Robert Michaud, GREMM. See Annex C for data from beluga sampled on the beach.

Collected data and preserved samples from each beluga will be provided by March 3l of each year of the contract i.e. 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 to the DFO, MLI. Samples and digital photos will be sent to Robert Michaud, (GREMM). All necessary material for collection of samples will be provided by the DFO and Robert Michaud (GREMM).