In Lake Huron, stunning underwater video footage showcases a region dubbed “fish city” by a documentary crew for Earth Day due to its abundance of fish gathering near the warm-water outflow of Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. However, Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) challenges this portrayal, describing the site as a “fish trap” instead. The First Nation highlights the deaths of up to five million gizzard shad in 2025, as reported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulatory document.
SON also notes that several lake sturgeon, a culturally significant and at-risk species, were stranded in a forebay pond at the plant. While one sturgeon was rescued in November with collaboration between Bruce Power and SON, three others remain in the pond. The debate over “fish city” extends beyond mere imagery, raising concerns about how Bruce Power addresses ecological risks as it seeks regulatory approval to enhance plant capabilities and generate more electricity.
SON contends that the warm water discharge from the Bruce station acts as a lure for fish, leading them to become trapped within the system. While regulators did not directly attribute the plant to the fish die-off, a biologist from SON emphasized that the site operates in two phases: attraction and entrapment, posing risks to fish populations. Bruce Power refutes claims of causing the 2025 die-off, attributing it to environmental factors such as high fish numbers and severe weather conditions.
Bruce Power has implemented various measures, including nets and monitoring systems, to prevent fish entrapment and improve ecological safeguards following the 2025 incident. The company has also sought permission to increase electricity output from existing reactors, with a final hearing scheduled for July 2026. Despite operating under stringent regulations, the lack of clear benchmarks for assessing fish losses poses challenges for monitoring environmental risks associated with the plant.
Retired fisherman and community leader Paul Jones emphasized the ecological impact of the gizzard shad die-off on the lake ecosystem, underscoring the significance of fish as a vital resource both culturally and ecologically. He stressed the importance of respecting fish in Anishnaabe teachings and the need to address ecological concerns beyond celebratory portrayals like “fish city.”
