Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-01-2014, 06:12 PM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 1,796
Default Commercial fishing is shutdown in Alberta

See:
http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife...g-alberta.aspx
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-01-2014, 06:31 PM
Pinhead's Avatar
Pinhead Pinhead is online now
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 387
Default

The best thing the new minister has done.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-01-2014, 06:33 PM
Krush's Avatar
Krush Krush is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 52
Talking Hallelujah!

This is such good news. Here's what it says at the above link:

"Commercial Fishing in Alberta
On August 1, 2014, all lakes in Alberta will be closed to commercial fishing.
A provincial assessment and an extensive third-party review have been completed to assess the long-term viability of Alberta’s commercial fishery and determined that Alberta’s commercial fishery is no longer viable.
Closing the commercial fishery is an important step in protecting the long-term sustainability of Alberta’s fishery. The closure will help to ensure we can meet the increasing pressure and demands placed on the province’s limited number of lakes."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-01-2014, 06:58 PM
greylynx greylynx is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,078
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Andersen View Post
Low hanging fruit. You will continue to see nets in LSL and CL next year.

We have a fisheries problem in Alberta.. a big problem which ever way you look at it.

I find such a small move to be rather insulting.

I did not vote for him.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-02-2014, 07:38 AM
AppleJax's Avatar
AppleJax AppleJax is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sturgeon County
Posts: 1,893
Default

The lake whitefish are going to devastate a few lakes in a matter of years... Not good
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-02-2014, 08:14 AM
unclebuck unclebuck is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by greylynx View Post
Low hanging fruit. You will continue to see nets in LSL and CL next year.

We have a fisheries problem in Alberta.. a big problem which ever way you look at it.

I find such a small move to be rather insulting.

I did not vote for him.
You can add nets in LLB, Beaver, along with all of the lakes in Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, to continue with the present walleye limits.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-02-2014, 08:40 AM
Kim473's Avatar
Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 6,470
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleJax View Post
The lake whitefish are going to devastate a few lakes in a matter of years... Not good
I don't agree. More people will target them if their numbers increase thus keeping the numbers down. I know I would. Maybe they will clean the lakes up a little as they feed mostly on small worms and bugs if i'm not mistaken.
__________________
Kim

Gonna get me a 16" perch.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-02-2014, 08:54 AM
Dan Foss Dan Foss is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 374
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleJax View Post
The lake whitefish are going to devastate a few lakes in a matter of years... Not good
Some lakes yes. In lakes where there is a large enough established predator base.... I think this should actually help in the short / medium term (5-10 years). But for lakes that the mature walleye and pike numbers are already struggling as it is..... Whites will explode and wont really help out and potentially choke out the lake. Will probably balance out in 10 years-20 years but probably not the best course of action if we are looking at restoring our lakes.

There are goods and bads
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-02-2014, 09:00 AM
greylynx greylynx is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,078
Default

Good points Applejax and Dan Foss.

Stabilization of an ecosystem, if there ever is any, does not occur over night.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-02-2014, 09:25 AM
TROLLER TROLLER is online now
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Rocky View County AB.
Posts: 3,560
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by greylynx View Post
Low hanging fruit. You will continue to see nets in LSL and CL next year.

We have a fisheries problem in Alberta.. a big problem which ever way you look at it.

I find such a small move to be rather insulting.

I did not vote for him.
Is here some part of that announcement that I missed. Does not closed mean closed. No where do I see anything about some lakes continuing with commercial fishing. Sorry if I missed it.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-02-2014, 09:31 AM
Lornce's Avatar
Lornce Lornce is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,671
Default

Does this mean no more nets in McGreger?
__________________
Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten,
but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been in a place that was less than beautiful.

My blog - casting on the waters

fishing regulations and facts on fish handling
Fishing Regulations
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-02-2014, 10:00 AM
crazyfish's Avatar
crazyfish crazyfish is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On a farm
Posts: 1,572
Default

Ther will still be nets allowed to be set by 1st nations people . And I don't have an issue with that ! But I do agree that the commercial side needed to stop !
__________________
Living for the adventure, enjoying the ride ! BRAD
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-02-2014, 10:19 AM
Walleye101's Avatar
Walleye101 Walleye101 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 763
Default

This is a good thing for Alberta Lakes. Years of scientific research have finally proven that there are not enough lakes in Alberta to sustain a commercial fishery with the population boom that was forecasted 20 years ago. Whitefish choking out lakes? C'mon people. Seriously? There will be more bigger Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout caught in the near future due to this closure. Finally something is done correctly. Now if they can just introduce a slot sized limit to protect the big breeders, that would put the icing on the cake!
__________________
It's all fun and games until someone loses a WALLEYE
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-02-2014, 10:41 AM
Barnes19 Barnes19 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 152
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walleye101 View Post
This is a good thing for Alberta Lakes. Years of scientific research have finally proven that there are not enough lakes in Alberta to sustain a commercial fishery with the population boom that was forecasted 20 years ago. Whitefish choking out lakes? C'mon people. Seriously? There will be more bigger Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout caught in the near future due to this closure. Finally something is done correctly. Now if they can just introduce a slot sized limit to protect the big breeders, that would put the icing on the cake!
I Agree!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-02-2014, 10:48 AM
NEWB NEWB is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,783
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleJax View Post
The lake whitefish are going to devastate a few lakes in a matter of years... Not good
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim473 View Post
I don't agree. More people will target them if their numbers increase thus keeping the numbers down. I know I would. Maybe they will clean the lakes up a little as they feed mostly on small worms and bugs if i'm not mistaken.
If I could only catch the illusive white fish.. I had on on the line last year, it spit the hook before I got him through the hole.

The white fish are my Unicoirn. The limits are there to taunt me...

As for closing the commercial fisheries, I wonder what kind of compensation the government is planning for the commercial fishing field.

I agree closing or reducing the amount of commercial fishing is a step in the right direction to help the lakes thrive.

I wonder if in 5-10 year we will see limits increased or removed on certain lakes for Walleyes and Jack fish.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 10-02-2014, 10:57 AM
MoFugger21's Avatar
MoFugger21 MoFugger21 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 1,777
Default

It will be interesting to see if/how this change actually affects the lakes in Alberta. But what I'm most interest in, is when people still can't catch larger pike and walleye, what will they blame when they can't blame commercial fishing for their bycatch.... That's for another thread I suppose....

I'm willing to bet we see negligible differences in the short term. I'm hopeful that the change will bring the desired results of more stable pike and walleye fisheries with the expanded food base, but I'm doubtful that we will see that difference. Time will tell.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-02-2014, 12:04 PM
cougarcreek cougarcreek is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 69
Default

I think that this is a step in the right direction but I agree that we also need to protect the big spawners to help balance on the whitefish.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-02-2014, 12:28 PM
buckman buckman is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,619
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by greylynx View Post
Low hanging fruit. You will continue to see nets in LSL and CL next year.

We have a fisheries problem in Alberta.. a big problem which ever way you look at it.

I find such a small move to be rather insulting.

I did not vote for him.
So its not all lakes as stated, only some of them? Not sure where or what LSL and CL is.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-02-2014, 12:44 PM
livinstone livinstone is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 176
Default

now if they put a slot size and allow you to at least have one for the outing l be happy but for now all this totaly release just kepts the man that was shown have to fis hungry.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-02-2014, 12:45 PM
verado eyes verado eyes is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 89
Default

cold lake is still netted on the sask side, Push to have them bought out
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 10-02-2014, 01:05 PM
Who Da Fisherman's Avatar
Who Da Fisherman Who Da Fisherman is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 1,793
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by verado eyes View Post
cold lake is still netted on the sask side, Push to have them bought out
They will probably increase their quota now
__________________
Fuel up, go for a drive, ask permission.....If you are scared, take your mom with you
Huntinstuff
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 10-02-2014, 01:10 PM
Kokanee9's Avatar
Kokanee9 Kokanee9 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,769
Default

"On August 1, 2014, all lakes in Alberta will be closed to commercial fishing.

A provincial assessment and an extensive third-party review have been completed to assess the long-term viability of Alberta’s commercial fishery and determined that Alberta’s commercial fishery is no longer viable.

Closing the commercial fishery is an important step in protecting the long-term sustainability of Alberta’s fishery. The closure will help to ensure we can meet the increasing pressure and demands placed on the province’s limited number of lakes."


Maybe I'm reading too much into the news release, but I have to wonder if more is planned. Increasing the number of C&R lakes as well as lowering catch limits more could be possible in the future and should also be considered now before more lakes collapse.

More people vs. a limited amount of fishable water has only one outcome, and its not good.

What will the effect of no commercial fishing have?

I'm thinking it won't be seen for 2-5 years. The effects will only start to materialize next year when the full #'s of whitefish are able to spawn from this season forward. Definitely the plus side is more food for other species of fish.

In lakes with few predators, an explosion of the whitefish population will be followed by a large increase in the #'s of predators after a couple years have gone by. This secondary increase will only become evident as the increased survival rate of the predators to reach spawning age may take 3-5 years.

Will whitefish dominate some lakes, now that there is no commercial fishing? Perhaps, but I believe that it would only be temporary.
__________________
Don't be a Skippy!

http://youtu.be/ZLDzPH-cBhw
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 10-02-2014, 01:34 PM
aulrich's Avatar
aulrich aulrich is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,112
Default

I could see recruitment rates of any spring spawning fish dropping like a stone but that could be balance by predation on whitefish fry over the winter

One possible outcome is there will be way more summer kill of whitefish and instead of using a resource, it rots on the beach or we pay to pick it up and haul to a land fill.

I see this as a feel good measure that at best will have no effect, the commercial fishery was not the problem,
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10-02-2014, 01:43 PM
Red Bullets's Avatar
Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: central Alberta
Posts: 12,629
Default

If whitefish numbers increase from not netting them, I predict that the cormorant, pelican, eagle, osprey and other fish bird populations will go up in coming years.
__________________
___________________________________________
This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
___________________________________________
It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 10-02-2014, 03:23 PM
verado eyes verado eyes is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 89
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman View Post
They will probably increase their quota now
NOPE Albert SRD dictates cold lake, they want it gone, CUT Cut and shut them down with out paying them out unlike how they paid out the AB Guys, Just pay em out and shut it down and watch the white over populate
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 10-02-2014, 03:49 PM
huntsfurfish huntsfurfish is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 7,350
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MoFugger21 View Post
It will be interesting to see if/how this change actually affects the lakes in Alberta. But what I'm most interest in, is when people still can't catch larger pike and walleye, what will they blame when they can't blame commercial fishing for their bycatch.... That's for another thread I suppose....

I'm willing to bet we see negligible differences in the short term. I'm hopeful that the change will bring the desired results of more stable pike and walleye fisheries with the expanded food base, but I'm doubtful that we will see that difference. Time will tell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aulrich View Post
I could see recruitment rates of any spring spawning fish dropping like a stone but that could be balance by predation on whitefish fry over the winter

One possible outcome is there will be way more summer kill of whitefish and instead of using a resource, it rots on the beach or we pay to pick it up and haul to a land fill.

I see this as a feel good measure that at best will have no effect, the commercial fishery was not the problem,
Agree.

Im not convinced this is a good thing. In particular, for the southern reservoirs.
__________________
.
eat a snickers


made in Alberta__ born n raised.


FS-Tinfool hats by the roll.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 10-02-2014, 03:57 PM
Dacotensis's Avatar
Dacotensis Dacotensis is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Sherwood Forest
Posts: 5,176
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleJax View Post
The lake whitefish are going to devastate a few lakes in a matter of years... Not good
I had a good talk with a fw officer a few weeks ago about this topic and many other outdoor related themes.
I really wanted to be setting up elk camp. But I enjoyed talking to the officer.

He figured there would be a concern about the white fish as well.
What fish eats a 5lb white in our lakes.

This could be a very viable concern.

But I am also willing to see if the Eco system will stabilize.
__________________
We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
Ronald Reagan

Either get busy living, or get busy dying!
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 10-02-2014, 04:49 PM
aulrich's Avatar
aulrich aulrich is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,112
Default

Mind you given time, white's can grow very large, can you imaging a 20 pounder on a fly rod in open water

To really leverage this change they would have to start to protect bigger pike. So something like a kill zone of 63-75 cm then one tag/tear for a pike over 100 cm.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 10-02-2014, 05:38 PM
Rabbit Snarer Rabbit Snarer is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 279
Default

Whitefish are the only fish productive enough to satisfy the hordes, if they don't ruin the lake over-fishing other species will. It's a win win!
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 10-02-2014, 05:41 PM
dmcbride dmcbride is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bazeau County East side
Posts: 4,188
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dacotensis View Post
I had a good talk with a fw officer a few weeks ago about this topic and many other outdoor related themes.
I really wanted to be setting up elk camp. But I enjoyed talking to the officer.

He figured there would be a concern about the white fish as well.
What fish eats a 5lb white in our lakes.

This could be a very viable concern.

But I am also willing to see if the Eco system will stabilize.
Big pike will eat 5 lb. white fish.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.