Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bullets
A big problem with our provincial fish stocking program is we have a large population of fish eating birds that consume alot of fish. One adult cormorant eats up to 1.4 lbs. of fish a day.
The double crested cormorant was endangered in Alberta in the 70's. In 2005 just within a 45 km. radius of Lac La Biche there were over 8000 nesting pairs producing 1.5 chicks per nest. so thats 16000 adults and 12000 juveniles. 28000
birds eating even 1 lb. of fish per day is 14 tons of fish per day. As much as 40% of a cormorants diet can be yellow perch, trout and other game fish. 40% of 28000 is 16800. So potential for 8 tons of game and pan fish eaten daily. Just in this 45 km. radius in lakeland country.
I'm not sure how much cormorants, pelicans, gulls, osprey, etc., influence a provincial fishery but it has to be affecting at least 20% of stocked fish.
You can put more money and fish into the stocking program but the bird population would probably just increase.
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We should bring some cormorants out to Pigeon, St.Anne and Wabamun and train them to eat walleye !!!!! sorry couldn't resist .....
