Auston Chhor, MSc, RPBio
Salmon Habitat Biologist

Auston is a Registered Professional Biologist. He received a BSc in Biology from Queen’s University and went on to complete a Masters of Science at Carleton University under Dr. Steven Cooke, where he studied how catch-and-release impacts the behaviour of fish. He spent three summers in the field at the Queen’s University Biological Station and the Kenauk Institute where his love of the outdoors deepened, spurring his move out west to Vancouver. Over the course of his career he has had the privilege to study bass, salmon, walleye, and sturgeon, but salmonids hold a special place in his heart. He grew up in a suburb of Toronto where his passion for learning about the natural world was formed in front of the TV by Planet Earth and Jacques Cousteau’s Ocean Tales.

When he has a spare moment you can find him biking, skiing, or rock climbing, depending on the weather. He is also a freelance writer for The Tyee, Canada’s National Observer, and Science World.

auston [at] raincoast [dot] org

Auston Chhor wearing a blue shirt standing in front of the ocean.

Wild Salmon Program

Publications

Chhor AD, Reid JR, Holder PE, Nowell LB, Brownscombe JW, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ. Temporary retention in cold water reduces post-release behavioural impairment in angled Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (2022) North American Journal of Fisheries Research 42(1): 140-150 https://doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10731

Chhor AD, Glassman DM., Smol JP, Vermaire JC, Cooke SJ (2020) Ecological consequences of shoreline armoring on littoral fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in an eastern Ontario lake. Aquatic Sciences 82(73) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-020-00740-0

Chhor AD, Glassman DM, Brownscombe JW, Trahan AT, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ. Short-term behavioural impacts of air-exposure in three species of recreationally angled freshwater fish. Fisheries Research 253(106342) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2022.106342

Glassman DM, Chhor AD, Vermaire JC, Bennett JR, Cooke SJ (2022) Does bait type and bait container configuration influence the performance of remote underwater video systems in temperate freshwater lakes for assessing fish community structure? Hydrobiologia https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-021-04776-7

LaRochelle L, Chhor AD, Brownscombe JW, Zolderdo AJ, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ (2021) Ice-fishing handling practices and their effects on short-term post-release behaviour of Largemouth Bass. Fisheries Research 243.

Trahan A, Chhor AD, LaRochelle L, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ (2021) Influence of artificial lure hook type on hooking characteristics, handling, and injury of angled freshwater gamefish. Fisheries Research 243.

Trahan AT, Chhor AD, Lawrence MJ, Brownscombe JW, Glassman DM, Reid CH, Abrams AEI, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ. (2020) Do carbonated beverages reduce bleeding from gill injuries in angled Northern Pike? North American Journal of Fisheries Management 41(3): 639 – 649.

Hlina, B, Glassman DM, Chhor AD, Etherington BS, Elvidge CK, Diggles BK, Cooke SJ. (2020) Hook retention but not hooking injury is associated with behavioral differences in Bluegill. Fisheries Research 242 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2021.106034

Reid JL, Bergman JN, Kadykalo AN, Taylor JJ, Twardek WM, Rytwinski T, Chhor AD, Frempong-Manso A, Martel AL, Lapointe NWR, Bennett JR, Nguyen VM, Reid AJ, Marty J, Robinson SA, Drake DAR, Winegardner AK, Gregory-Eaves I, Taylor MK, Smol JP, Creed IF, O’Connor CM, Cooke SJ (2022) Developing a national level evidence-based toolbox for addressing freshwater biodiversity threats. Biological Conservation 269(109533).

Nyboer E, Lin HY, Bennett J, Gabriel J, Twardek W, Chhor AD, Daly L, Dolson S, Guitard E, Holder P, Mozzon C, Trahan A, Zimmerman D, Ksener-Reyes K, Garilao C, Kaschner K, Cooke SJ. (2021) Global assessment of marine and freshwater recreational fish reveals mismatch in climate change vulnerability and conservation effort. Global Change Biology 27(19): 4799 – 4824.