An Introduction to Alberta’s Wonderful World of Fishes

From the tiny nine-spine stickleback, which grows to a length of only six centimetres to the two-metre long lake sturgeon, Alberta has a very interesting and varied fish fauna. Adjectives such as cool and cold-water, stocked, introduced, native, bait, prey, game and hybrid are used to describe Alberta’s fish species. Of the 62 species of fish in Alberta, 41 species go unnoticed by most people. Generally, these species are small in size, and provide food for fish-eating birds and mammals, and for other fish. With names like northern redbelly dace, emerald shiner, brassy minnow, longnose sucker, slimy sculpin and Iowa darter, these fishes represent a wide range of environmental adaptations, physical characteristics and behaviors.

The remaining 21 species of fish are called game or sport fish, and are of interest to anglers, and commercial and domestic fishers. Sixteen of these species are native to Alberta and five species have been introduced to this province through stocking. Three of the native game species — sauger, mooneye and cisco — are not well known.

The five species of game fish that have been introduced to Alberta are (eastern) brook trout, brown trout, golden trout, smallmouth bass and Dolly Varden (different from our native bull trout, which people used to call Dolly Varden). Most were introduced in the early to mid part of the 20th century either as experiments by fisheries managers or by individuals acting on their own initiative. Rainbow trout are mostly introduced; the only native populations of rainbow trout exist in the Athabasca River and drainage. The brook, brown, golden and rainbow trout have become integral components of the game fish fauna of Alberta, while the other two introduced species have not. The Dolly Varden occur only in Chester Lake near Canmore and smallmouth bass may still exist in Island Lake, north of the town of Smoky Lake.

Other introduced species (non-game) that have developed self-sustaining populations include, goldfish in Henderson Lake in Lethbridge and the threespine stickleback in Hasse Lake. These species were illegally introduced. The introduction of the sailfin molly, African jewelfish and western mosquito fish in the Cave and Basin hotspring in Banff National Park probably contributed to the 1988 extinction of the Banff longnose dace, which lived in the ponds below the hot springs. The Banff springs snail is an endangered species (2000), due to fish introductions and other human impacts at the Banff springs. The introduction of new species or even the transfer of fish from one water body to another can threaten the viability of existing fish populations, spread disease and compromise the integrity of our aquatic ecosystems.

Fish are Important to Albertans – Food, Recreation and Economic Benefits.

The Domestic Fishery – Indian subsistence or “domestic” fishing provides opportunities for Treaty Indians to fish for food for their household needs – a traditional use of Alberta’s fish resource. The Indian food fishery is recognized in law and by government policy. Domestic Fishing Licenses are free and allow Indians to fish for food with a net. Other forms of Domestic Fishing Licenses available from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development include: Métis Domestic Fishing Licenses issued to residents of Métis Settlements only for lakes on or adjacent to Métis Settlement Lands; and Domestic Fishing Licenses issued to individuals after approval of an application showing a need to fish for food for subsistence purposes.

The Sportfishery – Each year over 320,000 anglers spend approximately $340 million on goods and services related to sport fishing in Alberta. In 2000, the most recent year for which information is available, anglers spent the equivalent of more than 2.9 million days fishing, catching more than 12 million fish, of which over 10 million were released and about two million were kept. Ice fishing, fishing stocked water bodies and catch-and release fishing are gaining in popularity. Relaxation, enjoyment of nature, family togetherness, challenge and excitement, catching fish to eat, and improving fishing skills are reasons anglers go fishing.

The Commercial Fishery – Commercial fishing in Alberta involves primarily the gill-net fishery, but commercial baitfish fishing operations and the fishing lodge industry are considered part of the overall commercial fishery, too. Commercial fishing with gill nets has been carried out in Alberta since the late 1800s. This fishery targets Lake Whitefish, but lake trout, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, Cisco and goldeye are also caught. Commercial fishing regulations are set to minimize the incidental or by-catch of non-target species. In 1999/2000 the commercial (gill net) fishing industry produced 2.2 million kilograms of fish valued at $3.2 million to local economies. More than 85% of this harvest consisted of Lake Whitefish and Cisco. The majority of this fishing occurs during the winter months when the best prices can be gained. The catch is sold either through the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, a federal crown corporation that supplies mainly export markets, or directly to consumers. Approximately 40% of the commercial fishing catch is sold directly to Albertans. ?

Healthy Fish Populations are Indicators of Healthy Ecosystems

Although fish are valued mainly as a source of food, recreation and economic returns, Albertans’ interest in fish, their habits and aquatic environments is growing with increased environmental awareness. Fish populations are sensitive. Therefore, healthy, uncontaminated fish populations can indicate a healthy aquatic environment. The presence of fish can tell us that smaller prey fish species and the small aquatic organisms they eat exist in large numbers. Healthy fish populations can also help the survival of predators like osprey, fishers, mink and bears.

Fish Viewing Opportunities and a Source for Scientific Study

While perhaps not as dramatic or well-known as spawning runs of salmon in British Columbia, there are opportunities to view fish in their natural environment in Alberta. In September, bull trout can be observed spawning in Smith-Dorrien Creek (a tributary of Lower Kananaskis Lake), in the Elbow River between Elbow Falls and Canyon Creek, and in the Sheep River between Sheep Falls and Gorge Creek. Volunteers have helped tag, measure and weigh spawning bull trout as part of a special study conducted at Smith- Dorrien Creek. Each year many scientific studies are conducted to expand our knowledge of our fish resources and aquatic ecosystems. The public can view fish-rearing areas and interpretive displays at both the Cold Lake and Sam Livingston fish hatcheries as well as at the Raven and Allison Creek brood trout rearing stations near Caroline. Currently, work is underway to develop a world-class education and interpretive centre, called the Bow Habitat Station, at the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery in Calgary.

The original source of this article lives here http://www.whyte.org/time/riveroflife/fishmgmt.pdf