Located along the Waterfront Trail at the mouth of the Desjardins Canal—the only channel that connects Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour—the Fishway is the Great Lakes' first two-way fishway and carp barrier. It is designed to keep destructive, non-native carp out of Cootes Paradise marsh while maintaining the natural flow of water and native aquatic species. Since the Fishway began operating in 1997, 95% of the Hamilton Harbour carp population has been excluded from the marsh.

Click here to find out more about carp and the Fishway.

Operating schedule: 2010

March (after the ice melts):
Monday to Friday; 3 p.m.

April through June:
• Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Sundays/Holiday lifts*, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

*Sunday/Holiday lifts:
• April 2 (Good Friday) and April 18
• May 2, 16 and 30
• June 20 (Father's Day).
The Fishway does not operate on Fridays before Sunday lifts.

Further unscheduled lifts occur during high activity periods.

July:
• Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m.
• Fridays, 3 p.m.

August:
• Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.
• Fridays, 3 p.m.

Hamilton Fishing Derby, August 14, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

September:
• Wednesdays, 9 a.m.

October and November: Weather dependent, scheduled after rainstorms — the Fishway is open for free passage if appropriate conditions exist. In the late fall the Fishway is expected to remain open for free passage until ice up, generally late December.

Educational opportunities
The Fishway provides excellent opportunities for the public to view native fish up close, and learn about the conservation projects that are helping to restore this ecologically sensitive wetland. Public tours are available during regular operating hours, and school tours can be booked through our educational programs.

What you should know about sport fish consumption
Click here to learn about what Royal Botanical Gardens is doing to educate the public about sport fish consumption.

Download a PDF of a poster that summarizes sport fish consumption.

Read the latest information in Ministry’s Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish booklet.

Directions to the Fishway
From Highway 403, exit onto Main Street East, turn left onto Dundurn Street, turn left onto King Street, turn right onto Macklin Road.

From York Boulevard, turn right onto Dundurn Street, turn right onto King Street and right onto Macklin Road.

Park at the end of Macklin Road at Princess Point. Follow the Waterfront Trail to the Fishway.

Click here for a road map

A Fisheries Management Plan for Hamilton Harbour
Directions to RBG
Hours and Admissions
Shuttle Bus
What's in Bloom
Garden Areas,
Nature Sanctuaries
and Trails
Group Tours/Travel Trade
The Fishway