Alberta Trout Stocking to be reduced by 1/2 in 2014

[Don Andersen]

Folks,

According to an article in the Rocky Mtn, House newspaper of August 6,2013 written by Sarah Ann Collins, Alberta's trout stocking program will be reduced in 2014 by <> 50%.

The reduction is all about the southern Alberta flood and the effects on the primary hatchery Sam Livingstone located along the Bow River in Calgary.

I do apologize as I usually scan and print articles of interest but this one covers a full page. I will as best as I can paraphrase the article.


Ms. Collins article detailed:

1] the near heroic efforts of the SRD staff to save the trout within the Sam Livingstone Hatchery. Efforts which resulted in none of the fish dying although the hatchery itself suffered damage.
It should be noted that the efforts of the Sam Livingstone staff were well above the call of duty and reflects the care and attention that staff of the ESRD demonstrate towards the facility and animals/fish in their care.
2] an interview of Craig Copeland manager of the Fish Culture Operations revealed that due to the damage to Sam Livingstone Alberta will have a reduction of about 45% of the trout stockings in 2014. My. Copeland believes that Sam Livingstone will be @ full capacity and be able to provide 100% coverage in 2015.
3] The article also discusses ESRD's approach to spreading out the fish to other facilities in order to as much as possible reduce the effects to the Alberta stocking program.
4] There will be reductions in some lakes but the article mentions the Children Ponds will be stocked at near normal numbers.

For those that are interested in the whole article, I suggest contacting the Mountaineer for a copy of the page.

regards,


Don

[pikergolf]

I would like to see the QF get nothing for the year, those fisheries could bear it more than the others. Maybe this might be a good time to introduce reduced keep rates as well. I will drop Craig a note.

[MtnGiant]

Good thread as usual Don.

I just hope the poachers only take half their usual amount.

[hillbillyreefer]

Through all that flooding and destruction they didn't loose any fish! Well done!

[Icatchfish]

Originally Posted by MtnGiant

Good thread as usual Don.

I just hope the poachers only take half their usual amount.

exactly, I have only kept 1 pike this year. but I have seen many people who walk out of the lake with a bunch of 4 inch long trouts and I find it so hard not to tell them to put it back. many many people go for maxing their limit.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

I would like to see the QF get nothing for the year, those fisheries could bear it more than the others. Maybe this might be a good time to introduce reduced keep rates as well. I will drop Craig a note.

sorry what does qf stand for?

[waterninja]

it's really too bad about the damage that hatchery suffered but i don't see why it would affect all of alberta. i thought (could be wrong) that there were a lot of other hatcherys that also stock alberta lakes. is it possible they could increase production to take up the slack till sam livinginston is back up and running?
this news comes on the heels of an earlier announcement about proposed fee increases for angling liscences, some of which would go towards stocking programs and perhaps more areated ponds and lakes. sounds like albertans will be paying more for less as per ussual.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by waterninja

sorry what does qf stand for?

Quality Fisheries

[huntsfurfish]

Don't think it is too critical, if back to normal for 2015.

1/2 the fish for quality fisheries would be ok for 1 year too.

[Dysfunctional Bubble]

Horrible. We need to start imposing limits on the birds. I saw a greedy eagle going way beyond its limit the other day. Not to mention those pelicans. All they do is eat all those fishes day in and day out. Bloody poachers. If they keep this up there will be no fish left.

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by Dysfunctional Bubble

Horrible. We need to start imposing limits on the birds. I saw a greedy eagle going way beyond its limit the other day. Not to mention those pelicans. All they do is eat all those fishes day in and day out. Bloody poachers. If they keep this up there will be no fish left.

Haha, well done!

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

I would like to see the QF get nothing for the year, those fisheries could bear it more than the others. Maybe this might be a good time to introduce reduced keep rates as well. I will drop Craig a note.

X2

[Don Andersen]

Originally Posted by waterninja

it's really too bad about the damage that hatchery suffered but i don't see why it would affect all of alberta. i thought (could be wrong) that there were a lot of other hatcherys that also stock alberta lakes. is it possible they could increase production to take up the slack till sam livinginston is back up and running?
this news comes on the heels of an earlier announcement about proposed fee increases for angling liscences, some of which would go towards stocking programs and perhaps more areated ponds and lakes. sounds like albertans will be paying more for less as per ussual.

Hi,

The article did say that the other facilities will be able to make up for some of the shortfall due to the flood @ Sam Livingstone.
I expect that the ESRD folks have worked their tails off to maximize the usage at every operation available. Livingstone was the lynch pin for the trout stocking program. Other faculties are much smaller.

And on a further note - many years ago Alberta didn't have any trout to stock anywhere for a year. Long story.
At any rate, w/o exception, the fishing improved on each lake I fished in the Rocky area. with bigger fish caught by all.

The sky is not falling - just a tad grey.

PS - you missed otters. They chomp 2.5 lbs. of fish/day.

And the ACA stocking program is not dependent on the Govt of Alberta situation as far as I know. I suspect the ACA buys fish from private concerns.


Don

[the local angler]

the only thing i was worried about with the flooding was another outbreak of some sort of disease from all the flood water and stuff, hate to see the hatchery shut down again. i personally don't mind the reduced limits of stocking.

[FisherPotch]

I too think this could help some lakes. They over stock a lot of them.

I'm not sure how this works. Does the province own this hatchery or purchase fish from this hatchery? If they can't buy as many fish as normal couldn't they spend some money on aerators to help some of this years stock make it to next year?

[Albertafisher]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Hi,
PS - you missed otters. They chomp 2.5 lbs. of fish/day.

With the river otters I'm also worried about the freshwater clam population...

[Northwinds]

the worst predation will come from Cormorants,total control is needed if stocking is to be a success l!!! The others are bad but are not even in the same class as Cormorants.

[tallieho]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Folks,

According to an article in the Rocky Mtn, House newspaper of August 6,2013 written by Sarah Ann Collins, Alberta's trout stocking program will be reduced in 2014 by <> 50%.

The reduction is all about the southern Alberta flood and the effects on the primary hatchery Sam Livingstone located along the Bow River in Calgary.

I do apologize as I usually scan and print articles of interest but this one covers a full page. I will as best as I can paraphrase the article

1] the near heroic efforts of the SRD staff to save the trout within the Sam Livingstone Hatchery. Efforts which resulted in none of the fish dying although the hatchery itself suffered damage.
It should be noted that the efforts of the Sam Livingstone staff were well above the call of duty and reflects the care and attention that staff of the ESRD demonstrate towards the facility and animals/fish in their care.
2] an interview of Craig Copeland manager of the Fish Culture Operations revealed that due to the damage to Sam Livingstone Alberta will have a reduction of about 45% of the trout stockings in 2014. My. Copeland believes that Sam Livingstone will be @ full capacity and be able to provide 100% coverage in 2015.
3] The article also discusses ESRD's approach to spreading out the fish to other facilities in order to as much as possible reduce the effects to the Alberta stocking program.
4] There will be reductions in some lakes but the article mentions the Children Ponds will be stocked at near normal numbers.

For those that are interested in the whole article, I suggest contacting the Mountaineer for a copy of the page.

regards,


Don

CBC Calgary News ch 6,ran it .Above the call of duty,flooded lower level power rm.Bringing an electrician thru the flooded p/lot area,with a stocking truck.The 2 of them were able to bring on-line some of the flooded pumps,there by giving the needed oxygen to the thousands of fish....brian

[catonk]

""Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGiant View Post
Good thread as usual Don.

I just hope the poachers only take half their usual amount."

"exactly, I have only kept 1 pike this year. but I have seen many people who walk out of the lake with a bunch of 4 inch long trouts and I find it so hard not to tell them to put it back. many many people go for maxing their limit.""


I hear that.

[Flieguy]

problem with (southern) alberta is too many anglers, not enough lakes.

[Secret coulee]

Originally Posted by Flieguy

problem with (southern) alberta is too many anglers, not enough lakes.

X2 and cormorants

[greylynx]

Is Alberta so darn poor that we are unable to build more hatcheries?

And we have a government that can't spend a nickel to adapt to the increasing population that is in this province.

Welcome to Alberta.

We also have a government that is trying to save it's rear end.

More reason to kick Red Queen's goat boys out. Or maybe they could come to Jesus to quote my buddy Oko.

We need more hatcheries, small ones, because of the constant risk of disease.

For heavens sake fellow AO members. Do not accept the current status quo. It will destroy us.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by greylynx

Is Alberta so darn poor that we are unable to build more hatcheries?

And we have a government that can't spend a nickel to adapt to the increasing population that is in this province.

Welcome to Alberta.

We also have a government that is trying to save it's rear end.

More reason to kick Red Queen's goat boys out. Or maybe they could come to Jesus to quote my buddy Oko.

We need more hatcheries, small ones, because of the constant risk of disease.

For heavens sake fellow AO members. Do not accept the current status quo. It will destroy us.

Pretty hard to ask for and expect more hatcheries when they are cutting health and education.

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by huntsfurfish

Pretty hard to ask for and expect more hatcheries when they are cutting health and education.

I remember that same excuse in 1983 under Don Getty. Another Gomer.


If we are getting all these new fisher people into Alberta "who pay taxes" it is time for a change and not two bit excuses.

We all know that we are being held hostage by education and health in this province. Maybe time to clean out some research that is not very productive.

[Red Bullets]

X2

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by greylynx

I remember that same excuse in 1983 under Don Getty. Another Gomer.


If we are getting all these new fisher people into Alberta "who pay taxes" it is time for a change and not two bit excuses.

We all know that we are being held hostage by education and health in this province. Maybe time to clean out some research that is not very productive.

X2

[Crackmacs]

According to https://twitter.com/AENV_SRD just now

About 17 lakes & ponds are stocked as of May 3rd - about 320,000 fish total. We'll be stocking more throughout the season.

Asked them to look into the amounts, if it's still going to be halved.

[OneGirlWolfPack]

I agree with reducing the limits. I have a favorite little trout lake and the limits there are 5 trout per person, no size restrictions. That is ridiculous. So if I go there with my nieces and nephews as usual, we can legally keep 25 fish? I could be wrong but I think the number is affected by how many fish you have at home in the freezer too right? Sorry for my lack of knowledge on this. I don't eat fish and the kids never ask to keep any. They just like taking the picture then getting in the water to release the fish. 5 seems too high to me and I don't think the tiny trout should be allowed to be kept...even though that's pretty much all there is at that lake. So what if kids would be disappointed they can't keep their little fish? Use it to teach them how important it is to let that fish grow and spawn. They'll be a lot more disappointed when there's no fish at all. Just my opinion.

[The Fisherman Guy]

I agree to some extent, the high limits on stocked trout ponds are limiting multiple anglers from catching fish all year long.

Keep in mind that most pothole trout lakes are commonly referred to 'put and take' lakes, as the fish are stocked in lakes designated for catch and keep anglers. Most of these lakes are without appropriate spawning habitat. Some hatchery fish aren't able to spawn.

Would be nice to see 2 fish per angler, per day. So that kids can enjoy catching fish all season long.

[Crackmacs]

Another update https://twitter.com/AENV_SRD/status/463792629390381056

We'll be able to meet about 98% of stocking requests (incl. fall stocking program). Some trout will be a bit smaller than usual.