Alberta Environment and Parks want to know what local anglers think of fish management in a number of water bodies across northern Alberta.
The consultation process is part of their update to Alberta's Fisheries Management Program, which they're hoping to better align with Alberta's Fish Conservation and Management Strategy.
As part of this initiative, they have drafted the Northern Pike and Walleye Management Frameworks.
There are three phases to the consultation process. The first focused on public feedback on key management questions. This included catch and release, special harvest licenses, and season length, among others.
Jordan Walker, resource manager in the lower Athabasca Region for Alberta Environment and Parks, explained that phase two was seeking feedback on the draft management frameworks that incorporated those values.
“We're on phase three, which is to reach out to the anglers, to consult with them, and get their inputs on a number of water bodies in Alberta where we have low to moderate risk status for long-term sustainability,” he continued.
Elinor, Ethel, Hilda, Lac La Biche, Moose, and Spencer Lakes are all included in Alberta's Northern Boreal 1 (NB1) Fish Management Zone.
That means local anglers are being asked to submit their thoughts on the draft framework before the end of January.
However, local fish expert Ray Makowecki is disappointed with the survey overall.
“There has been a lot of people calling me, asking me about it. Some people don't even know there is a survey,” he expressed.
Another concern he has is when people are trying to complete the survey; they are finding the questions and answers to be confusing and “very leading.”
“People aren't able to express what they think should happen to the regulations,” Makowecki added.
Walker explained residents might feel like the answers they want aren't available because they simply aren't sustainable in that specific area.
“We have tried to provide areas in the surveys that are open-ended, where you can provide more information and tell us something about the fishing or its management. We encourage those to help us understand the public's input,” said Walker.
This is also the first time Alberta Environment and Parks has conducted an online survey of this stature.
Walker explained, “I think we're learning how to do it and do it better. I don't think we necessarily get it right the first time, and we appreciate that feedback. We probably haven't communicated well enough that not all options are available in some cases that anglers wish to see.”
Another concern Makowecki is hearing from residents is the recommendations made by local groups to the provincial government about fisheries management in the area were never given a chance.
As a result, the local organization focusing on fisheries management will be hosting meetings, and have invited government representatives.
“They will attend those meetings to further discuss the future of fisheries management,” Makowecki stated.
But for now, Walker is hoping residents will take part in the online survey.
“We want to make sure that the public has input to the management of the water bodies and that we have the ability to provide information to the public through a number of means so we can receive that information to help us make better decisions,” he said. “I think it's really important that people have the ability to have their say on our fisheries and provide us on their thoughts and knowledge on them.”
For more information, or to take part in the survey, visit talkaep.alberta.ca.
