The original plan for the lake was to remove some of the native fish, like white suckers and yellow perch, set them aside in tanks, then return them to the lake after the chemical had dissipated.

Smallmouth are not native anywhere in Atlantic Canada and are viewed as a serious threat to young Atlantic salmon if they are allowed to become established in the Miramichi River system. Smallmouth populations can grow quickly and turn to young salmon as a food source.

With the discovery last summer of smallmouth in the Southwest Miramichi downstream from the lake, the groups are now hoping to also treat about ten kilometres of the river itself at the same time, and at the same cost to native and non native fish alike.

The North Shore Micmac District Council and the Miramichi Salmon Association and the Atlantic Salmon Federation are involved in the project.

The science review is dated Oct. 21 but was released publicly last week.

It acknowledges "an ongoing risk of spread and establishment" of smallmouth bass in the Miramichi River system, and that application of a "chemical piscicide" like rotenone is the most effective approach.