dryfly Posted August 8, 2012 Posted August 8, 2012 Attention Anglers NOTE: I am just forwarding this note from Matthew Coombs. Please do not PM or email me. See below for contacts and more information. Thanks. Clive Message from Alberta Fish & Wildlife - Crowsnest Pass A Mountain Whitefish spawning survey will occur on the Crowsnest River in late September/early October 2012, and Alberta Fisheries Staff are looking for volunteer anglers to assist with the project. Mountain Whitefish use to support a subsistence fishery in southwestern Alberta. However, regulations limiting Mountain Whitefish harvest have become increasingly restrictive. Mountain Whitefish are a key player in the limited diversity of native fish in eastern slope streams. They are an important prey species for Bull Trout and share similar habitat requirements as fluvial Westslope Cutthroat Trout. There is some concern that the Mountain Whitefish population on the Crowsnest River may have declined in recent decades. While they constituted 90% of the total catch in an electrofishing survey in 1985 (1), a more recent survey in 2010 estimated the Mountain Whitefish population at just 20% of the Rainbow Trout population (2). However, Mountain Whitefish are not always captured consistently with electrofishing, making surveys difficult to compare. A Mountain Whitefish spawning survey will occur on the Crowsnest River in late September/early October 2012. Electrofishing surveys are expensive and result in poor survival of Mountain Whitefish, so the 2012 survey will be conducted by snorkelling. Snorkelling will be done by two biologists with extensive experience doing these surveys in the Bow River watershed from TERA Environmental and Golder Associates. While swimming down the river with mask and snorkel, these biologists will count the number of Mountain Whitefish congregating at spawning locations. By repeating surveys over a number of years, trends in the relative numbers of spawning Mountain Whitefish can be determined. The survey will cover the entire river from Crowsnest Lake to the Oldman Reservoir, with the focus being on reaches with high numbers of Mountain Whitefish. Timing of spawning is expected to be near the end of September or beginning of October, and volunteer anglers are needed starting September 15th. Volunteers should have a high level of expereince fishing for Mountain Whitefish on the Crowsnest River and be familiar with areas where this species can be targetted. Anglers will fish during the period of time leading up to spawning and report on their catch to Alberta Fisheries Staff to assist identify where Mountain Whitefish are congregating to spawn. The number of "ripe" fish caught by anglers will be used to time the snorkelling survey to coincide with the peak of spawning activity. A special Fisheries Research Licence (FRL) will be issued to volunteers participating in the study. It will allow them to temporarily hold and/or transport fish and collect the necessary biological information required for the study. This FRL will also allow volunteers to fish with maggots as bait for research purposes along the entire length of the river, if they choose to, but all other angling regulations will remain the same. Captured fish will be measured to determine the length at which Mountain Whitefish mature and spawn, so snorkellers can then specifically count the mature fish seperately from the juveniles. Some Mountain Whitefish may also be lethally sampled to extract otoliths for age determination. Anglers will not be required to fish with Alberta Fisheries Staff, unless fish are being lethally sampled to determine age, sex, and maturity, in which case Staff will be present and provide volunteers with an opportunity to learn how this is done. If you would like to participate in this study please, or know someone who would, please contact: Matthew Coombs Acting Senior Fisheries Biologist Fish and Wildlife Division Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Second Floor, Provincial Building 12501 - 20 Avenue Blairmore, Alberta T0K 0E0 Phone: (403) 562-3293 Cell: (403) 563-8847 Email: matthew.coombs@gov.ab.ca This study is being conducted together with: Michael Bryski Aquatic Biologist Water Management Operations Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Lethbridge, Alberta Quote
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