Skip to content

Albertans concerned with fishing regulations

Public Meetings in January to Discuss Sportfishing Regulation Changes for 2018 A public meeting to discuss changes to the 2018 Alberta Sportfishing Regulations will be held on Jan. 16 at Lac Bellevue Hall near St. Paul, at 7 p.m.

Public Meetings in January to Discuss Sportfishing Regulation Changes for 2018

A public meeting to discuss changes to the 2018 Alberta Sportfishing Regulations will be held on Jan. 16 at Lac Bellevue Hall near St. Paul, at 7 p.m.

For the past 20 years, many public lakes in Alberta have had zero catch limits on walleye. Anglers have expressed concern and are asking why not allow some fish to be caught and utilized by Albertans. Anglers want to have healthy fish numbers without wasting this valuable resource.

During the past three months the Government of Alberta has been asking the people to complete three website surveys dealing with Fisheries Management Plans and Alberta 2018 Sport Fishing Regulations to address the future of walleye and pike in Alberta lakes.

Albertans have expressed concern about the website surveys. The specific concerns include the following: the people did not know that such surveys were occurring, the people had difficulty accessing the website survey, the questions did not provide low risk harvesting regulatory options other than allocating tags in a draw or suggesting only catch and release angling opportunities.

The third survey suggested on some lakes possible increased walleye harvest opportunities through the allocation of tags on a draw. Reduced harvest opportunities for Northern pike on several lakes were offered through the allocation of tags on a draw or catch and release only. Some closures to pike harvest were also being identified.

After input from the previous meetings at Lac Bellevue and Lac La Biche some changes were made to the 2017 fishing regulations. These earlier public meetings organized by volunteer public citizens had also suggested low risk walleye harvesting regulations that would reduce the high walleye populations and allow ecological balance with Northern pike, Yellow perch and Lake whitefish.

Some public groups have suggested the following simplified regulatory options for walleye and pike.

1. “Harvesting one walleye daily limit of slot-sized between `40cm and 50cm total length with a specified concurrent season (all lakes in the same week or days). A shorter concurrent season for the smaller–sized lakes (less than 1000 hectares surface area) could also be a consideration. Catch and release fishing would remain unchanged”

2. Revise the Alberta Sportfishing Regulations for pike catch limits in the walleye-pike lakes to one pike daily slot size of 55cm-65cm.

3. Revise the Alberta Sportfishing Regulations for pike catch limits in all pike-perch lakes to a 2 pike daily limit with slot size of 55cm-65cm or a two pike daily limit any size for these lakes.

The Lac Bellevue meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to hear the Government options and to identify your preferences. This is your opportunity to speak out. This meeting is being organized and sponsored by concerned public volunteers, clubs and associations.

The Alberta Government will also be holding other public meetings scheduled for Calgary (January 10th), Edmonton (January 11th), Slave Lake (January 17th), Grande Prairie (January 18th), and Lac La Biche (January 22nd). Check the Alberta Government website for locations and times.

Simplified changes will enhance the overall fish populations and allow the people to use the fish as food and at the same time provide economic benefits to the local communities for continued recreational fishing and tourism. The concerns and suggested solutions of the anglers, stakeholders, municipalities, Fish and Game Associations, Agricultural Societies, Chambers of Commerce, business community and the general public with regard to better utilization of fish resources in the Central and NE Regions of Alberta is acknowledged.

Ray Makowecki – Fisheries Biologist, Volunteer




Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks