Perfectly Legal To Waste Burbot

[WildCats]

Found this at Slave Lake yesterday on the point at Assineau. There was several nets set and this was the scene at each one of them. I wrote down the numbers and took photos and called Fish and Wildlife later in the day. Apparently Burbot are "not" gamefish and can be wasted. Commercial fishing is going on slave till mid April and this is occuring every day. There is no market for Burbot so Commercial fisherman are not obligated to salvage them. Here's where it gets interesting; although they are not classed as a gamefish, quota's are still in place. We'll use Pigeon Lake for an example. You, me and everybody else can go out and kill the limit for burbot on Pigeon which is ten fish ( "0" retention after Feb.1 I might add ). You can take them home or leave them on the ice, but don't kill more than the quota!!! We figured there was roughly 500 plus Burbot laying on the ice.

[kostianych]

holly cow...this has to be stopped....

why burbot is not a gamefish? it`s in the Regs and has limit to keep...

please let us know what was the F&W's answer....

[WildCats]

There's a couple of spots in that area with alot of rock which makes it a good spawning area. We stopped there on the way home to pick up a few Burbot for the freezer and came across this. I was so disgusted we packed up and headed home.

[ericlin0122]

wt???????????????????

[baitfisher83]

I just cant believe the crap "commercial fishermen" are allowed to get away with these days....just because they don't want burbot it doesnt mean anglers dont. Personally i'd rather keep a few burbs over a pike or two....Thats gotta be the most disgutsing display i've ever seen.

[3Dshooter]

Originally Posted by baitfisher83

I just cant believe the crap "commercial fishermen" are allowed to get away with these days....just because they don't want burbot it doesnt mean anglers dont. Personally i'd rather keep a few burbs over a pike or two....Thats gotta be the most disgutsing display i've ever seen.

X2! Wow...... unbelievable!

[billwminnow]

Thats sooooooooooo wrong

[walking buffalo]

Thanks for putting up the pics. Disgusting! F'n Disgusting!

No point having two threads on this, and these pictures say it best. This link is to the Queen's Printer, this is the Act that must be amended to stop this from being legal.

FISHERIES (ALBERTA) ACT
GENERAL FISHERIES (ALBERTA) REGULATION
Alberta Regulation 203/1997
With amendments up to and including Alberta Regulation 288/2009

Game fish
57(1) No person who is in possession of a game fish shall allow its
edible flesh to be wasted, destroyed, spoiled or abandoned.
(2) This section does not apply to
(a) burbot,
(b) fish caught or held under the authority of a research
licence unless specified otherwise in conditions attached
to the licence,
(c) the disposal of fish at the direction of a fishery officer,
(d) fish that undergo taxidermy, and
(e) fish kept under a fish culture licence.

http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?pag...=9780779745258

To clarify, Burbot are lagally listed as a game fish, but this section of the Fisheries Act allows this to happen. All that needs to be done to stop this is to have SRD request parliament to amend section 57- 2-a.

WildCats, those pictures are invaluable in closing this loophole to abuse. Thanks for taking them, and sharing them. Please keep them posted in the photobucket account so others can see them, and forward the link to the government with their complaint/request for a change to this law.

If someone doesn't beat me to it, I'll post up some email address where people can voice their concerns, pictures included.

[DuckBrat]

Thank you so very much for sharing this. Emails have been sent to the Fisheries head and Minister Mel Knights office. As sick as this is, it may help the initiative to get Burbot listed as an official game-fish and get some controls on limits and hopefully stop this ignorant behavior. I suggest finding the fisheries biologist in your area and sending them these shots with your comments. It only takes 5 minutes of your time.

[deanmc]

Originally Posted by DuckBrat

Thank you so very much for sharing this. Emails have been sent to the Fisheries head and Minister Mel Knights office. As sick as this is, it may help the initiative to get Burbot listed as an official game-fish and get some controls on limits and hopefully stop this ignorant behavior. I suggest finding the fisheries biologist in your area and sending them these shots with your comments. It only takes 5 minutes of your time.

The biologists would have likely been on the lake when the nets were pulled. If you want action send it to the newspaper, every newspaper you can think of. I have sent a link for this thread to the Edmonton Sun and my mla George Vanderburg. Disgusting waste.

[crazyfish]

Originally Posted by DuckBrat

Thank you so very much for sharing this. Emails have been sent to the Fisheries head and Minister Mel Knights office. As sick as this is, it may help the initiative to get Burbot listed as an official game-fish and get some controls on limits and hopefully stop this ignorant behavior. I suggest finding the fisheries biologist in your area and sending them these shots with your comments. It only takes 5 minutes of your time.

X2 , get it in the face of your MLA, most people seeing that waste would not agree to let it continue !

[bowness]

Great work!

[Jimboy]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Thanks for putting up the pics. Disgusting! F'n Disgusting!

No point having two threads on this, and these pictures say it best. This link is to the Queen's Printer, this is the Act that must be amended to stop this from being legal.



http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?pag...=9780779745258

To clarify, Burbot are lagally listed as a game fish, but this section of the Fisheries Act allows this to happen. All that needs to be done to stop this is to have SRD request parliament to amend section 57- 2-a.

WildCats, those pictures are invaluable in closing this loophole to abuse. Thanks for taking them, and sharing them. Please keep them posted in the photobucket account so others can see them, and forward the link to the government with their complaint/request for a change to this law.

If someone doesn't beat me to it, I'll post up some email address where people can voice their concerns, pictures included.

Section 2 says game fish does not apply to burbot.

[BGSH]

What a waste, you could feed a whole village of people with all these wasted burbs, shame on the Alberta government for letting this happen.

[Drewski Canuck]

There is a pet food outfit up in Morinville that uses fish for cat food and dog food supplement as I understand. Can't they use Ling? It would mean some money for the commies and no waste on the ice.

Drewski

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Jimboy

Section 2 says game fish does not apply to burbot.

that's what I was pointing out in the legislation. Burbot ARE a game fish, but are exempt from the No wastage laws.

Section 57-2-a is the Offensive Offal statute.

http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?pag...=9780779745258

To clarify, Burbot are legally listed as a game fish, but this section of the Fisheries Act allows this to happen. All that needs to be done to stop this is to have SRD request parliament ( legislature )to amend section 57- 2-a.

There are other mistakes in the quote.

[Rockymtnx]

WOW! What a waste.
That is just wrong.

Looks like it's time for the AO members to get on the phone, write a few letters and emails.

How the h3ll can recreational fisherman have limits, and seasons on burbot but yet this is allowed to happen.

[chuck0039]

Even though the law says they don't need to be salvaged, the commercial fisher person that did this should have disposed of them in a different manner than littering them all over the ice and in the public's eye.

You would think the the person would have enough sense to realize that what he did would raise alot of eyebrows, or maybe they thought it would go un-noticed

One good thing that will come out of this mess is the fact that the law will hopefully get amended now that everyone is aware.

[1899b]

I am very surprised by the comments here. What did you folks think happens when nets are placed. There are tons of "accidental" kills. Kind of hard to force one species to get caught in a net i would think. A very wasteful practice indeed. My grandfather commercial fished Muriel Lake by Bonnyville for whitefish back in the day. Hundreds of Pike and Walleye succombed to those nets "accidentaly" as well. Disgusting fishing practices.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by chuck0039

Even though the law says they don't need to be salvaged, the commercial fisher person that did this should have disposed of them in a different manner than littering them all over the ice and in the public's eye.

You would think the the person would have enough sense to realize that what he did would raise alot of eyebrows, or maybe they thought it would go un-noticed

One good thing that will come out of this mess is the fact that the law will hopefully get amended now that everyone is aware.

I am sure there are various groups in Alberta that could have used that Burbot meat.

[bowness]

That is an incredible waste of a fantastic tasting fish. There should be a review of the status of this "non-gamefish" so it is not wasted in this way. Times have changed in the way people see and use this species and the laws have not. I see a post has given us the legal terms to use when forwarding our thoughts to fisheries about the amendment to the gamefish definition. If we all send an e-mail (with the photos) it may stir things up. One of the great benefits of having us all on this forum! Working together, aww I think I'm tearing up...

[ogre]

Doesn't this brings back images of the buffalo slaughter of years past? what a waste.

[fisher22]

i think who ever is doing that they should be fine just like any other person would if they were doing that .that is just a waste and crule thats my thought and i think the fish and wildlife should look into it some more.

[horsetrader]

Originally Posted by fisher22

i think who ever is doing that they should be fine just like any other person would if they were doing that .that is just a waste and crule thats my thought and i think the fish and wildlife should look into it some more.

The fish and wildlife are there when they net

[BGSH]

Crazy, you kidding me, that is sick, why waste fish and feed the gulls, there are all ready to many gulls around in the first place, secondly why?? what is the point of this?? seriously, people have a choice to think and do, but this is not thinking, very sad to see indeed.

[alwaysfishn]

Why wouldn't the commercial guys at least dump these fish back through the hole in the ice?

[slivers86]

I'd be tempted to cut the nets up... take a 'slice' out of their operation...

[fish gunner]

Originally Posted by slivers86

I'd be tempted to cut the nets up... take a 'slice' out of their operation...

I am sure you have good intention at heart but this is a bad idea it is there right but not yous to stop them pm the horse trader has a passion for peoples rights eh big guy. no matter if every body around you is doing the same thing that does not make it right a true man stands against the tide .and if you got caught they wont call the cops .

[horsetrader]

Originally Posted by fish gunner

I am sure you have good intention at heart but this is a bad idea it is there right but not yous to stop them pm the horse trader has a passion for peoples rights eh big guy. no matter if every body around you is doing the same thing that does not make it right a true man stands against the tide .and if you got caught they wont call the cops .

Ya what ever (a true man knows when to ignore those who know nothing)

[fish farmer]

Theyre burbot, disgusting creatures pretty well only good for bear bait. Oh and BGSH, do some research on Gulls, they're not all over populated, in fact many gulls are an at-risk species, thats why we cant shoot them like we can crows and magpies.