The Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory (OFRL) in Lake Opeongo was established in 1921, and for the first 25 years of operation, UfT faculty and students conducted research from fisheries monitoring to population ecology.

The Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research, now located on Lake Opeongo, is responsible for fish population monitoring, surveys, and assessment projects. Their main projects are towards populations of Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout, sculpins, cyprinids, catfish, and conducting creel surveys (anglers and their catch).