Fish conservation strategy for Alberta : 2006-2010

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Fish Conservation Strategy for Alberta

2006 - 20 1 0

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Table of Contents

Minister's Message ii

Alberta's Fisheries 1

Alberta Fisheries Management Basics 2

Meeting the Challenge 7

Guiding Principles 9

Goals and Objectives for Fish and Habitat Conservation 12

The Role of Sustainable Resource Development 18

We Don't Work Alone 20

Benefits From Fish Resources 23

Commitment to Fisheries Management 24

This document is available on the SRD departmental website (http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fw/fishing/index.html).

ISBN 0-7785-4825-2 (Printed Version)

0-7785-4826-0 (On-line Version)

Pub No. 1/119 ® Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Printed November 2006 Photo Credit: Travel Alberta

Fish Conservation Strategy for Alberta - 2006 - 2010

Minister's Message

I am pleased to introduce this updated Fish Conservation Strategy for Alberta, an important
document that will help guide planning and priority-setting for fish management and fish
conservation in our province over the next five years.

The goal of this "big picture" framework is to ensure Alberta's fisheries are managed in a
sustainable way and continue to provide many benefits to Albertans. Fish are among our most
precious natural resources and they belong to all of us. Many stakeholders provided input that led
to the completion of this document, which certainly reflects wide public support for fish
conservation.

I have often said that our land, and everything on it and in it, has given us everything we have.
Fish truly provide us with many social, recreational and economic benefits, but there is great
demand for this limited resource. Alberta has only about 1,500 fish-bearing streams and 1,100
lakes that contain fish, and very careful management is required to balance use by the 1,500
domestic, 200 commercial fishers and 300,000 anglers competing for fish in these waters.

The next five years will be a very significant time in Alberta's history, and the Fish Conservation
Strategy for Alberta 2006-2010 is key in helping the province plan and set priorities for managing
and conserving Alberta's fisheries in the 21st century.

All Albertans share the responsibility for ensuring that fish and wildlife have a secure future in our
province. I encourage you to become actively involved and help ensure that our fisheries remain
healthy for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

honourable David C. Coutts
Minister

Sustainable Resource Development

Alberta's Fisheries

Alberta has many types of aquatic habitats: small streams in the mountains and foothills; large
rivers extending through the prairie, parkland and boreal regions; alpine lakes, prairie potholes and
reservoirs, and large lakes of the northern boreal forest. These aquatic ecosystems contain fish
populations made up of 65 species, of which 51 are native, 4 have been introduced intentionally
by government agencies, and 10 have been introduced illegally or accidentally. Compared to most
other provinces, and elsewhere in North America, Alberta has a relatively sparse fish fauna.

Alberta's fisheries are those populations of fish that are resources used by people, typically for
domestic (aboriginal fishing for food), sportfishing or commercial fishing purposes. The fish
resources of Alberta are limited in diversity and abundance by the small amount of suitable
habitat, since Alberta does not have a large amount of surface water. Surveys in Alberta indicate
about 800 lakes and 1,500 streams have self-sustaining sport fish populations. An additional 300
ponds are stocked regularly with trout to expand fishing and harvest opportunities.

These habitat limitations, coupled with an increasing human population, result in a very high
demand on fish resources. Compared to other provinces, Alberta's ratio of demand to supply of fish
is extremely high. By the mid-1990s, this demand, combined with fish-use regulations that were
not very restrictive, led to declines in the number and size of fish in many populations.

Introducing a number of regulations that were focused on conservation and adopting a principle of
precautionary management together has helped some fisheries recover. Other fish populations will
require more time to recover.

Good science is the foundation of fisheries management practices that promote recovery and
sustainable use of Alberta's fish resources. Through the use of sound science and knowledge-based
actions, Alberta is helping lead the way in meeting the challenge of sustainable fisheries
management.

Alberta Fisheries Management Basics

Alberta has adopted a management approach that ties appropriate management of a fishery to its
status. Management actions are simplified by grouping all fisheries into one of four classes of
fishery status (see Figure 1) that reflect both the condition of the fish population and the degree
to which we use it.

Fisheries under increasing fishing pressure typically shift from trophy quality status (like an old-
growth forest) to stable, vulnerable and finally collapsed, unless properly managed. Fishing
pressure refers to all types of fishing: domestic (aboriginal fishing for food), commercial and
angling.

The terms stable, vulnerable and collapsed are commonly used in the scientific literature to classify
population status based on a number of biological factors. It's important to understand "collapsed"
does not mean that a particular fish population no longer exists. There may be a reasonable
number of fish present, but still too low in number and of too few year-classes (different ages of
fish) to ensure the perpetuation of that population. Collapsed populations are at a high risk of
loss, and actions to protect and rebuild the adult fish population are required to reduce that risk
and recover the population to a stable status.

Under the Fish Conservation Strategy, the intent is to have all populations in a healthy state —
primarily stable or, in some cases, trophy quality. To achieve that state, harvest must be balanced
against the ability of the population to produce fish on a sustainable basis. Management of fish
for a particular level of stability (i.e., abundant medium-sized fish versus creating a trophy fishery)
will include public consultation to determine the public interest in the balance of harvest versus
fish size.

Figure 1 - Fishery Classification

Trophy Quality

Abundance

Catch rates are high

Size Composition
All sizes present, lots
of large fish

Stable

Abundance
Catch rates are good

Size Composition
Catch rates are good,
few large fish

Vulnerable

Abundance
Catch rates are fair

Size Composition
No large fish, few
spawners, lots of small
fish

Collapsed

Abundance
Catch rates are poor

Size Composition
Very few of any sized
fish

Fish Conservation Strategy for Alberta

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Alberta's fisheries are managed using a variety of tools, applied within a management cycle
(Figure 2) that consists of the following steps:

1. Inventory - what do we have? Assessing the productive capacity of the habitat, and the status
of the fish population.

2. Planning - what is desired for the fishery? Determining what fish are available and can be
harvested sustainably, and developing conservation and use plans through public consultation.

3. Applying the tools - how will we achieve what is wanted? Setting regulations in place to
ensure that harvest by various users is within sustainable levels.

4. Monitoring - assessing fish harvest and population status, and evaluating success relative to
goals.

5. Adapting - changing regulations, as needed, to balance population sustainability and harvest
opportunities to achieve success, then beginning the cycle anew.

How frequently this cycle is repeated depends on the following:

• the biology of the species,

• the harvest or natural mortality pressure the population is under,

• the status of the population, and

• the relative priority of the fishery.

Our goal under this management cycle is to assess provincially significant fisheries at least once
every 3 years, and regionally and locally important populations every 5 and 10 years, respectively.
Priority will be placed on threatened or endangered species, native fishes and waters with the
largest numbers of desired fish species and heavy fishing pressure.

One tool to help set priority is the General Status of Wild Species in Alberta , a study conducted
every five years that can lead to the detailed assessment of certain species and their potential
listing as threatened or endangered.

Inventories

Populations

• netting

• electrofishing

• tagging

• biological sampling
habitat

• physical characteristics

• water quality

harvest

• domestic

• sport

• commercial

Questionnaires

• creel survey

• catch and release

• tag returns

Interpreting Data

• results

• analysis

• identify limiting
factors

• determine productive
capabilities

• scientific theory and
hypothesis testing

• interpretations

• conclusions

• recommendations

• reporting

Fisheries Management
Plans

• Provincial Plans

• Species Plans

• Water Body Plans

Provincial Fish and
Wildlife Policy

• goals

• objectives

• strategies

• criteria

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Figure 2 - The Fisheries Management Cycle

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What does the
inventory information
tell us?

What do we have?

■ where is it?

■ how much is there?

■ how much is used?

■ has it changed?

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What is desired?

■ which species? - how many?

■ how big? - where?

Adapting

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Monitoring and
Evaluation

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Leave enough
to maintain a
self sustaining
population.

How will we achieve
what is wanted?

What was
taken/lost?

Allocation
of the
fish

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Management

Techniques

Users

• education

• regulations

• enforcement

habitat

• protection

• restoration

• development

Fish Populations

• introductions

• stocking

• remove unwanted
species

• enhance food source

Monitoring and
Evaluation

• users

• fish population

• habitat

Habitat/Fish Losses

Man-caused and natural,
habitat alterations and
declines

Consumptive Users

• domestic fishing

• sport angling

• commercial fishing

• bait fishing

• scientific studies

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Being proactive in preventing declines in fish stocks was an
important principle raised by the public during the public
consultation processes for walleye management, northern
pike management, and the East Slopes regulations review in
recent decades.

Photo Credit: Alberta Conservation Association

For sportfishing in particular, the fisheries management cycle
has encouraged the development of a small suite of angling
regulation options for each species. As a result, regulations are more consistent, fishing
opportunities are increased and the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations is less complicated
than if every water body had its own regulations. Further simplification of regulations would be
difficult without decreasing opportunities to harvest fish, especially given the pressure that our
fisheries face. Flowever, regulations are not set in stone.

Fisheries are dynamic and fisheries managers need to be adaptable in their use of management
technigues. Fishery regulations will change as these dynamics change, and science provides better
ways to assess fish populations and fish use, for better management of our renewable fish
resources.

As one example of how this cycle of fisheries management
can be adapted, more remote fisheries that cannot be
practically monitored on a regular basis are typically
managed using a precautionary management approach (avoid
risk where uncertainties exist). This means harvest
regulations may be more conservative, and Alberta biological
data will be used to ensure several year-classes of spawning
age fish remain in that water body in order to protect the
sustainability of the fish population. Although this may
reduce harvest opportunities somewhat, experience shows
that without more intensive monitoring it's the only way to
ensure declines in fish stocks are not repeated.

Meeting the Challenge

The challenge for fisheries management is to conserve fish populations and habitat for the benefit
of Albertans in the face of increasing human population pressure and use of aquatic ecosystems.

The following vision, mission, and goal statements from the current business plan of Alberta
Sustainable Resource Development are built upon the recognition of our fundamental stewardship
role and collaboration with stewardship partners.

Our Vision

Alberta's lands, forests, fish and wildlife benefit present and future Albertans.

Our Mission

Sustainable Resource Development encourages balanced and responsible use of Alberta's
natural resources through the application of leading practices in management, science, and
stewardship.

Our Goal

Alberta's fish and wildlife resources and their habitats are healthy, productive and sustainable.

The sound stewardship of fish and wildlife resources facilitates consumptive
(fishing and hunting) and non-consumptive recreational opportunities
compatible with healthy, diverse fish and wildlife populations.

Maintenance of biodiversity and productivity of aquatic ecosystems helps to maintain healthy fish
populations , which provide social and economic benefits to Albertans. Achieving sustainability of fish
stocks and other aquatic resources requires that these resources , and the ecosystems that support
them, be managed in such a way that their long-term viability and productivity are maintained for

the benefit of future generations.

To meet this challenge, Alberta will continue to use good science and adaptive management, while
following the ''precautionary management principle" developed by the United Nations to address
fish declines throughout the world. This consists of:

"...cost-effective measures and actions , including future courses
of action, which ensure prudent foresight, reduce or avoid risk to
the resources, the environment, and the people, to the extent possible,
taking explicitly into account existing uncertainties and the
potential consequences of being wrong. "

-Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. 1995.

Fisheries Dept, Inland Fisheries,
Food and Agriculture Organization,
United Nations.

Guiding Principles

These guiding principles are integral to shaping how we will meet the challenge of managing
Alberta's fish resources.

1. No net loss of the productive capacity of habitats.

What Does This Mean ?

Every effort needs to be made to avoid habitat losses that may diminish Alberta's ability to
satisfy the demand from all users for fishing and harvest opportunities. Alberta and the
Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), are responsible to protect
existing habitat and ensure the replacement of lost fish habitat in the province of Alberta. The
Alberta government supports the federal principle of "no net loss of productive habitat."
However, as intensive development in the province proceeds, it is inevitable that not all losses
of habitat can be compensated at the immediate site of the habitat loss, or with exactly the
same type of fish community impacted. The result will be a decline in local fish production and
fishing opportunities in the area of the damage that will have to be compensated in another
location.

2. Fish populations are to be maintained by natural reproduction wherever possible.

What Does This Mean ?

Natural reproduction is the most biologically sound and cost-effective way of maintaining fish
populations. The highest priority allocation of fish resources is to the population itself, to
ensure sustainability. Notwithstanding the importance of natural reproduction, Alberta will
continue to support a significant and important fish culture program to create fisheries that
would not exist through natural reproduction of wild fish. Where necessary, fish culture may
also be used to maintain fish species threatened with extirpation, or to re-establish fish
populations that have been eliminated through excessive harvest or habitat alteration.

What Does This Mean?

Every species of fish in an aquatic community
plays an important and integral role in the
overall healthy function of the ecosystem.

The diversity of a fish community is closely
related to the diversity and health of habitat.
Fisheries management and protection
strategies will consider the fish community
and aquatic ecosystem in its entirety, and will
strive to maintain indigenous natural diversity and integrity in both the fish community and
habitat. Where appropriate, biological diversity will be measured and will form a basis for
management decisions. Higher management priority will be placed on native versus non-native
fishes. Fish stocking programs will be modified to protect native fishes where necessary.

Control or removal of invasive, exotic species may be done to restore ecological integrity.

3. The biological diversity of the fish
fauna is to be maintained, and the
depletion or extirpation of species,
populations, subpopulations or unique
strains must be avoided.

4. The management of fisheries will be conducted on the basis of fundamental ecological
principles and factual information.

What Does This Mean ?

Good and timely information on fish stocks is fundamental to achieving fish and habitat
conservation and fish-use allocation goals. Good information follows the tenets of the sound
practice of ecological science. In the absence of good information, uncertainty is high and
precaution must be greater. The availability of good information reduces uncertainty and
enables fisheries managers to minimize precaution and allocate greater proportions offish
stocks to users. The collection of fish and fishery information precedes management decisions,
and will ideally be done following a regular schedule, based on fishery type and priority. Peer
review of information and proposed management actions will be done where appropriate.

5. There should be public involvement and education in the fisheries management process.

What Does This Mean?

Greater public awareness and the involvement of a knowledgeable public in fisheries
management are essential to increasing public support to recover and sustain aquatic habitats
and fish populations. Public involvement will be incorporated into fisheries management
processes. Major initiatives will be announced in the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations
one year before implementation. Public review will primarily occur at the local level, with
additional input from the Alberta Fisheries Management Round Table committee. The final step
is to seek Ministerial approval of proposed management changes.

6. The user-pay philosophy should augment the financing of the stewardship and
management of fish resources.

What Does This Mean?

As with stewardship, financing the management of fisheries is a responsibility that must be
shared by all, and supported directly by resource users such as anglers, resource developers
and industries. From general revenues, the provincial government provides core financial
support on behalf of Albertans. This core financing may be augmented by fees and levies paid

7.

by direct resource users such as anglers,
commercial fishermen and outfitters/
guides, and indirect users such as
industries that affect fisheries.

Proponents of industrial activities that
affect fisheries are expected to pay for
impact assessments, as well as any
mitigation or compensation of effects.

Public access to waters producing
publicly owned fish should be provided
and maintained.

What Does This Mean?

Maintaining access to waters producing
publicly owned fish is important for maintaining opportunities for recreational use. Although
waters are generally in public ownership, surrounding lands can be held in private ownership
and public access may be limited or denied. Alberta will not stock fish for recreational use into
waters where there is no public access.

Fish Conservation

Strategy for

Alberta

2006 - 2010

Goals and Objectives for Fish and Habitat Conservation

Goal 1: Habitat Maintenance

To sustain or achieve a net gain in the quality and quantity of fish habitat in Alberta. The federal
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is the primary regulatory agency for dealing with the
harmful alteration of fish habitat in Alberta. The Fisheries Management Branch of Sustainable
Resource Development will focus effort at the landscape level, while providing fisheries
management objectives and advice to DFO. Doing so supports DFO in fulfilling its legislated task of
protecting habitat at the site-specific level, in a manner that is well-integrated at the landscape
level.

Achieving the Habitat Maintenance Goal:

Objective 1: Fish Habitat Protection

To maintain the productive capacity of aquatic habitats to support healthy and diverse fish
resources.

Objective 2: Fish Habitat Restoration

To restore the productive capacity of fish habitats in suitable areas where natural or
man-caused events have impaired that capacity.

The Fisheries Management Objectives of Sustainable Resource Development regarding habitat
replacement as compensation for habitat losses that occur as a result of development are:

Preferred habitat replacement shall be in the form of like-for-like habitat (i.e., stream for
stream).

Habitat replacement shall occur as near to the habitat loss site as possible.
Replacement habitat must be designed and built for particular fish species.

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Replacement of habitat losses on publicly accessible
lands must also be on publicly accessible lands.

Companies required to compensate for habitat losses
will be responsible for establishing a viable fishery,
including future fish stocking costs at the habitat
compensation site, if stocking is necessary to
maintain a fishery.

Objective 3: Fish Habitat Development

To enhance fish production through intelligent habitat
manipulation, where feasible and wise.

Goal 2: Fish Population Management

To ensure that native and desired introduced fish populations
are maintained at satisfactory levels of abundance and
distribution to meet the biological needs of fish communities,
and to address the expectations of Albertans today in a
manner that does not compromise the options of future
generations.

Achieving the Fish Population Management Goal:

Objective 1: Species Management Planning

To develop provincial- level strategic plans for the management of priority fish species for
which such plans do not yet exist, and to revise and update existing management plans.

Provincial species management plans provide a consistent framework to describe species' status
and outline strategies to achieve focused, cohesive and measurable management goals and
actions at the landscape and provincial scale. Management plans have been developed for
walleye, northern pike, lake sturgeon, golden trout, Arctic grayling and bull trout. Priority
species for new plan development and revision include cutthroat trout, lake trout, yellow
perch, and bull trout.

Objective 2: Fish Production Maintenance

To maintain the desired abundance and diversity of native and desired non-native fish species
at levels that meet conservation goals and societal expectations.

Generally, the minimum requirement is to permit fish at least two years of spawning at full
maturity before they are available for harvest.

Objective 3: Fish Production Restoration

To restore diminished fish production to full production wherever possible.

Implementation of restrictive size limits, reduced bag limits, changed seasons and gear
restriction to bring harvest and/or fish mortality back to sustainable levels are means of
reversing overharvest problems and restoring production levels. In some cases, recovery may
require more aggressive steps, such as management of other natural fish predators and removal
of non-native fish through various methods, including use of piscicides. For populations that
are particularly susceptible to harvest, a new licensing approach based on a limited harvest
system, similar to the hunting tag draw, is being tested for its ability to balance harvest
pressure with sustainable fish production.

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Objective 4: Fish Production Enhancement
and Development

To enhance or develop new fish production
where appropriate and possible.

When considering stocking activities,
emphasis has shifted from creating new
fisheries to protection of native fish
communities. Fish stocking will continue to
provide important trout fishing opportunities
in many ponds and lakes throughout the
province. In addition, Sustainable Resource
Development is currently preparing a plan for
a reactivated walleye-stocking program over
the next 5-10 years. Fish culture programs of the future will also place emphasis on native
species, sterile fish and stocks that are genetically compatible with wild populations of the
watershed, to eliminate the risk of native fish declines that might occur if stocked fish escape
to waters containing native fish.

Goal 3: Fishing Opportunities

To maintain and provide a high diversity, quality and number of different fishing opportunities
across the province, while managing harvest and use at levels that are sustainable.

One of Sustainable Resource Development's challenges is to allocate, through a public consultation
process, the appropriate use or combination of uses of fish resources that are surplus to
conservation needs, which result in a sharing of the resource between legitimate users and achieve
a range of benefits, while still supporting fishery management objectives. To better understand
who is using fish resources and harvest levels, the department will evaluate the merit of licensing
all users.

The management of fisheries must follow a policy that allows harvest only when a supply of fish
beyond conservation needs has been proven available. The Fish and Wildlife Policy for Alberta
(1982) stipulates that the interim allocation priorities will be in the following descending order,
until supply and demand issues are addressed on a site-specific basis through the allocation
process:

1. Conservation of fish stocks;

2. Alberta Indians fishing for food on specific sites;

3. Metis people fishing on Metis Settlements;

4. Resident recreational use; and

5. Primary commercial uses (e.g., commercial fishing, guiding and tourist angling).

In addition, Sustainable Resource Development is considering the feasibility and merits of treating
any losses of fish and habitat attributed to industrial activities as an allocation of the resource to
industry. Reductions in fish production levels already need to be considered when determining the
available supply of fish for other users.

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Achieving the Fishing Opportunities Goal:

Objective 1: Fish Conservation

To maintain and restore, desired, naturally
self-sustaining fish species biodiversity
and numbers by taking advantage of the
productive capacity of natural habitats in
order to supply ecological, economic and
cultural benefits to the citizens of
Alberta.

Objective 2: Aboriginal Food Fishery Use

To provide for food fishing within the
constraints of fish conservation and
constitutionally protected rights.

Food fishing by net is conducted under the authority of a domestic fishing licence. Treaty
Indians involved in sportfishing do not require a sportfishing licence at the present time, but
must follow the sportfishing regulations on all waters when they are angling. In R.v. Powley,
the Supreme Court determined that some Metis people had an aboriginal right under section
35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982 to hunt for subsistence purposes and outlined the test for
determining a Metis aboriginal right. As a result of the Supreme Court decision, Alberta is
currently renegotiating the Interim Metis Harvesting Agreements with the Metis Nation of
Alberta and the Metis Settlements General Council. At this time. Metis people require a
sportfishing licence and must follow the sportfishing regulations when angling.

Objective 3: Recreational Use

To provide for recreational fishing within the constraints of fish conservation and subsistence
fishing.

Sportfishing in Alberta currently operates under an open-access policy and no limitation is
placed on the number of licences issued. At present, youths under the age of 16 and Alberta
residents aged 65 and older are not required to hold a licence, but the goal is to eventually
license all users. Licensing systems that limit the total number of fish that may be harvested
from waters may be implemented. In 2006, Alberta began a two-year pilot project to use a
special licensing system that limits the total number of walleye that may be harvested from
three waters. In the future, it may be necessary to limit the number of anglers at some water
bodies to sustain fish populations, to maintain the quality of the fishing experience and to
avoid overuse of sensitive environments where some fisheries are located. Limiting angler
numbers will be a last resort.

Objective 4: Commercial Use

To provide for commercial and competitive fishing opportunities, within the constraints of fish
conservation, subsistence fishing and recreational fishing.

Within commercial uses, the 1982 Policy states that where conflicts occur, priority will be
given to the use(s) that maximize local economic return. We are currently working with
commercial net fishermen to rationalize the industry, reducing the number of licencees via
licensing changes and a voluntary compensation process. The goal is to reduce the number of
licence holders to under 200 people and the number of nets to about 17,000. Other
commercial uses include competitive fishing events, the angler guiding industry, fishing lodges
and camps, as well as collecting baitfish for sale. Regulation of these uses of the fish
resources will occur as needed. In 2006, a new Competitive Fishing Events (tournaments and
derbies) Licence was implemented to minimize impacts on fish populations and traditional

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Achieving the Public Involvement Goal:

There will be renewed effort to provide Albertans with information about the status and
management of fish. Completion of the Bow Habitat Station in Calgary is an example of a key
component in describing the relationship between fish, aquatic environments and people.

Alberta's fish are a public resource that we manage in order to meet, to the extent possible, the
benefits, desired by its users. It's a requirement of government that regulation changes have some
measure of public review and comment. In addressing any regulation or management changes that
may impact constitutionally protected rights of aboriginal Albertans use of a food fishery, there is
a legal requirement to consult with the affected parties.

Objective 1: Public Consultation

To obtain input from all the users on their views and expectations for the condition and
availability of the fish resources of the province.

Local and regional groups are consulted on regulation changes and area-specific matters. An
Alberta Fisheries Management Round Table committee, with representation from various user
groups, has been established to meet this need. An updated process is being established for
specific consultation with Indian people.

Objective 2: Education and Outreach

To provide the public with an understanding of the fish resources and fish management issues
in Alberta.

recreational fishing through the development
of policy, standards and controls regarding
competitive fishing.

Objective 5: Fish-Use Allocation

To allocate fish production, beyond
conservation needs, to achieve the greatest
overall benefits, using a fair process that
involves stakeholders, identifies and considers
users' expectations, and provides a basis for
setting benefit priorities.

The allocation process will continue to be
improved to meet the diverse expectations
expressed by Albertans.

Objective 6: Monitoring Food Quality

To provide information to users on the quality of fish for consumption.

Contaminants in fish can affect fish health and production as well as affect the health of
people eating those fish. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, in conjunction with
Alberta Health and Wellness and other government agencies, will develop a fish-quality
monitoring protocol to measure contaminant levels in fish and to provide information to the
public.

Goal 4: Public Involvement

To obtain input from the public on their views and expectations for the condition and availability
of the fish resources of the province.

mm

Objective 3: Public Stewardship

To encourage fish resource users and
others to take the initiative to manage
their activities and actions in a manner
that will consider and protect fishery
resources and the habitat upon which
they depend.

Fish Conse rvation Stra

The Role of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Alberta owns the fish and the waters. The Natural Resources Transfer Agreement (1930) transferred
fish resource management from the Government of Canada to the province. Sustainable Resource
Development has the mandate and responsibility within the provincial government to function as
the advocate for fish resources and fisheries through the leadership of its Fisheries Management
Branch ( A Fish and Wildlife Policy for Alberta, 1982), and to oversee fisheries management
throughout the province. The Fisheries Management Branch is responsible for fish population and
use assessments, allocation offish resources and regulating use. Fisheries Management is also
mandated to provide information to promote the continued development of a knowledgeable public
and to encourage public participation in the wise management of the fish resource.

We must strive to include the participation and commitment of all Albertans. This inclusive and
comprehensive approach to fisheries management can best be described as stewardship...

Stewardship requires that individuals and organizations take
voluntary actions to mitigate the impacts of their activities, such that
fisheries resources are passed on to succeeding generations in as good or a better
state of health than when they were received. This involves a commitment to
ethical behaviour and a sound environmental conscience on the part of all
participants in stewardship of the resources.

Within Sustainable Resource Development, Fisheries Management Branch works as part of a
community of resource managers with the following roles:

Wildlife Management Branch:

• Identifies and recovers species at risk in Alberta. This branch provides the formal link, in
Alberta, to the national Species At Risk programs, through which fish species at risk receive
protection.

Enforcement Field Services:

• Enforces Alberta's Fisheries Regulations.

• Increases public awareness of fisheries conservation
issues.

Lands Division:

• Albertans own the land. The Lands Division manages
industrial, commercial and recreational access to public
land, including shorelands, and works with industry, users
and the public to encourage responsible action and foster
a stewardship ethic through the Respect the Land
program. The Lands Division ensures that users consider
and protect riparian and fisheries values when conducting
activities affecting waters. They do this through land-use
planning and by issuing licences, permits, and
dispositions with accompanying operating conditions.

The Lands Division also monitors, enforces, sets
reclamation standards, and builds awareness of
land-use issues.

Forestry Division:

• Protects and manages forest resources on Alberta's public land. Forest management plans and
operating ground rules used by the forest industry and government include measures to
maintain and protect watersheds, riparian areas, fish habitat and the aquatic environment.

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Other government agencies, the public and industry also have important, related roles in fisheries

management as follows:

The role of Alberta Environment:

• Albertans own the water. Under the authority of The Water Act and the Environmental
Protection and Enhancement Act, Alberta Environment is responsible for water policy and
legislation to ensure the quality and quantity of our water resources and to ensure thriving
aquatic ecosystems now and in the future. The department issues licences and permits to work
in or extract water, ensuring these activities are approved in consideration of fisheries
protection. Alberta Environment also provides water quality information that helps fisheries
management. The department leads the delivery of the Water for Life Strategy, part of which is
focused on assessing the health of Alberta's aquatic ecosystems.

The role of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development:

• Licenses aquaculture operations to ensure compliance with guidelines and regulations, while
providing opportunities for individuals to develop private or commercial fish farming
operations.

The role of Alberta Community Development:

• Manages flora and fauna, access and land use within provincial parks and protected areas,
where it also enforces regulations affecting recreational and food fisheries. The Fisheries
Management Branch manages fisheries within those areas, in consultation and collaboration
with Community Development.

We Don't Work Alone

The role of Alberta Health and Wellness:

• Evaluates contaminants in fish to
determine safe consumption levels and
issues consumption warnings to the
public as required.

The role of the Federal Department of

Fisheries and Oceans and Environment

Canada:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages and
protects fish habitat from harmful
alteration in Canada pursuant to the
federal Fisheries Act. They also share
some of this responsibility with Environment Canada when issues arise under the pollution
prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, which are administered by Environment Canada. In
discharging their duties under the Fisheries Act in Alberta, these two federal agencies work
closely with Alberta provincial staff. Fisheries and Oceans takes into account Alberta's Fisheries
Management Objectives when issuing approvals under the Fisheries Act. Fisheries and Oceans
also has responsibilities pursuant to the Species at Risk Act and works with Sustainable
Resource Development staff to identify and recover endangered or threatened populations of
aquatic species in Alberta.

The role of aboriginal people with constitutionally protected rights:

• Participate in consultation opportunities provided to develop approaches for use of available
fish resources for food. Aboriginal people can help ensure the sustainability of fisheries
resources by reporting on their levels of harvest. An additional role includes sharing of
traditional knowledge of past fishery conditions to help develop a picture of the history of the
resource.

The role of the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA):

• The ACA has been delegated responsibility and authority by the Minister of Sustainable
Resource Development to use licence fee levies for delivery of its Fisheries Program, in support
of the department's provincial Fisheries Management Objectives. Their program supports the
department in the determination of stock and population status, the development and
implementation of management plans, and management of consumptive and non-consumptive
use and users. The Fisheries Program includes the inventory and monitoring of fisheries and
fish habitats to determine distribution, abundance, status, harvest and trends. Also included is
the stocking of selected trout fisheries. Through the Report-a-Poacher Program, the ACA also
helps reduce the loss of fish due to illegal harvest.

The role of municipal governments:

• Regulate certain land use activities that can have an impact on fish habitat. In addition these
governments undertake their own activities that can have a significant impact on aquatic
systems, and must tailor their activities and approvals to encourage the protection and
maintenance of aquatic systems.

Fish Conservation

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The role of industry:

• Obtains the required regulatory approvals
for their work, and incorporates appropriate
fish and habitat protection, mitigation and
compensation measures to minimize effects
on fisheries. Industry also works with
government agencies to ensure good resource
status information is available before, during
and after industrial activities.

The role of the public:

• Public participation is vital in managing
Alberta's fisheries. Contributing to the

development and support of fisheries management objectives (by responding to invitations for
public consultation), promoting and delivering stewardship programs, and complying with
regulations and angling codes of ethics are additional roles of a public interested in the
maintenance of fisheries resources.

Benefits from Fish Resources

The benefits Albertans expect from their fish resources are diverse and include both consumptive

and non-consumptive values:

1. Indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity - Stable communities of native fish species are
an integral component of a healthy ecosystem and contribute to biodiversity. Fish communities
are sensitive to environmental change, thus the diversity and size of fish populations or
communities can be indicators of aquatic health, including water quality. In Alberta, the Water
for Life Strategy recognizes fish as one of the key indicators of the health of watersheds.

2. Cultural and natural history - Fish are interesting. General public interest in fish, their habits,
their aquatic environments, and simply knowing they exist and are managed, is growing along
with increasing environmental awareness. Fish play a role in traditions and culture, particularly
of aboriginal peoples.

3. A source of recreational opportunity - Over 200,000 licensed anglers along with about 100,000
senior or youth anglers spend over 3 million days angling annually in Alberta. Sportfishing
provides an opportunity for an outdoor activity that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle for
participants, one that can be shared with family and friends and helps increase awareness and
appreciation for the natural environment.

4. A source of food - Fish can be an important source of food for participants in domestic and
recreational fisheries, and for people who purchase fish from the commercial fishery.

5. A source of economic benefits - Expenditures associated with Alberta's recreational fisheries
approach $400 million annually for goods, services and major investments. Anglers from
around the world fish in Alberta. Annual sales of commercially caught fish exceed $3 million.

In a few cases, fish and their habitat provide viewing attractions that can create local income
from non-consumptive activities.

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Commitment to Fisheries Management

Alberta is actively working and collaborating to recover and sustain healthy aquatic habitats and
fish populations for the benefit of current and future Albertans. We are committed to involving all
stakeholders, including aboriginal and Metis people, anglers, commercial users, industry, and the
general public as our partners in ensuring healthy aquatic habitats and fish populations are a
lasting legacy.

Your support, assistance and participation are greatly appreciated.

Strategy for Alberta