In Lake Huron, captivating underwater footage has revealed a bustling underwater community that a documentary crew named “fish city” and showcased on Earth Day. However, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) is disputing this portrayal, asserting that the area near the warm-water outflow of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is more of a “fish trap” than a thriving habitat.
SON highlights the significant loss of up to five million gizzard shad in 2025 as reported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulatory report. This mass die-off occurred when an influx of fish congested the cooling water intake systems, leading to the shutdown of Bruce A Unit 2 by the utility. Additionally, SON mentions the plight of several lake sturgeon, a culturally important and at-risk species, found stranded in a forebay pond at the plant, with one being rescued in November.
The dispute over the designation of “fish city” raises concerns about how Bruce Power mitigates ecological risks, especially as they seek regulatory approval to enhance plant capacities for increased electricity production.
SON maintains that the warm water discharged by the Bruce station acts as a lure for fish, creating an attraction and entrapment scenario. Biologist Ryan Lauzon, who conducted a comprehensive study on the 2025 fish kill for SON, explains that the thermal effluent serves as bait, drawing fish into the plant’s forebay where they struggle to find an exit, putting them at risk.
Bruce Power refutes claims that the plant was responsible for the 2025 die-off, attributing it to environmental factors such as high shad numbers and harsh weather conditions. The utility asserts that it has implemented measures like nets, deterrents, and enhanced monitoring to prevent future incidents.
In its quest to raise electricity output, Bruce Power has requested approval from regulators to boost production levels by 11% by 2030 without constructing new reactors. This proposal is aimed at meeting the escalating provincial power demand while adhering to environmental regulations.
Despite operating under stringent rules, Bruce Power acknowledges the absence of clear benchmarks to assess the acceptability of fish losses due to impingement or entrainment, highlighting the need for more data to gauge environmental risks accurately.
The ecological impact of the gizzard shad die-off is emphasized by Paul Jones, a former fisherman and councilor with the Chippewas of the Nawash Unceded First Nation. Jones underscores the importance of shad as a food source in the lake ecosystem and stresses the ecological and cultural significance of fish in Anishnaabe teachings.
The ongoing debate surrounding “fish city” underscores the complexity of balancing energy production with environmental stewardship, prompting a critical examination of operational practices to ensure sustainable coexistence with the natural ecosystem.