History of Athabaska Rainbows

[DonAndersen]

I received the email below from Carl Hunt, retired biologist for the Hinton/Edson region.

The Athabaska Rainbow is the only native rainbow in Alberta.

Don

 

Dear SARA

Population numbers of Athabasca rainbow trout are variable due to natural environmental events, land use changes in their native habitat and angler harvest, however an overall decline became noticeable in the early 1990’s.  A review of the population status was conducted and stocks were considered “May Be At Risk” in the General Status of Alberta Wildlife Species, 2005 report.  The Provincial Status report was completed in 2009 by two eminent Fisheries Professors (Joseph Rasmussen & Eric Taylor). The Provincial Scientific Subcommittee reviewed the information and the Endangered Species Conservation Committee recommended a provincial designation of “Threatened”, 2009. A provincial recovery team was organized in 2010 including federal representatives (DFO & Jasper Park) and completed a recovery plan and recommendations, that received Provincial approval in 2014.

 

The committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, COSEWIC, 2014, recommended Athabasca Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), as "Endangered" under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  The urgent public consultation period was a short 30 days (2016-01-08 to 2016-02-09) and yet three years later, I can't find any 'action' to list or protect this unique population of rainbow trout.

 

The decline of Athabasca Rainbow Trout was recognized over 20 years ago, documented by scientists at least 10 years ago and recommended by Provincial & Federal Science Committees as 'Threatened' & now 'Endangered',  but SARA is still processing the information!  Angling has been limited to catch and release for this population for over 20 years and last year a complete five year angling closure was recommended by Provincial fish managers for an entire river watershed (Berland River and tributaries ).  However, no Federal or Provincial government actions have been reported that reduce habitat destruction.  I am aware of continuing evaluations and culvert surveys but the 'ACTIONS' have not been summarized or made available to the public.

 

I continue to review the SARA notifications but I'm unable to find even a priority list for 'Endangered' freshwater Fish. Does SARA have a priority list for review and approval of species recommended by COSEWIC?  If so, where is Athab RNTR listed and when can anglers and the public expect the official designation that might provide habitat protection or at least some enforceable legislation?

 

Carl Hunt

Edson Alberta

 

Timeline ACTION summary for Athabasca Rainbow Trout

2005 - May be at Risk

2009 - Threatened

2014 - Threatened Provincially & nominated by COSEWIC as Endangered.

2016 - Public review by SARA

2019 - Results of public review ?

2020 - Designation by SARA  ??

20__ - Extirpation ________???  

 

Cc.        Dr. Darryl Smith, Fish Chair, Alberta Fish & Game Assoc.

            Carolyn Campbell, Conservation Specialist, Alberta Wilderness Association,

            Neil Keown, Chair, Alberta Chapter, Backcountry Hunters Anglers

            Silvia D’Amelio, Chief Executive Officer, TUC, Alberta
            FishWildOldtime, Retired F&W staff, Alberta.

 

Bcc.     General Public

[DonAndersen]

Do recall the last Federal Govt had to be sued to release recovery plan for Cuts.

Their replacement arrived and the Recovery Plan squirted forth.

 

Don

[albertatrout]

I would say a fairly different scenario up there versus the cutties down south. The main athabow threat is introgression with other athabows that have varying levels of hatchery genetics. The government is still deciding if they need to be 95% or 99% pure to be considered athabows. Even if you brought the habitat to 100% functional it still would not address the few hatchery alleles floating around in the population. Short of finding a true 100% pure population, rotenoning everything, restocking from source, then building fish barriers all over the place, not much of a solution exists. Angling bans will make no difference as most of the core athabow creeks are totally unfishable anyways. Habitat needs to be addressed to save many of the grayling and bull populations up there, it won't help with the genetics issue though.

[DonAndersen]

Albertatrput,

Many  years ago I fished the strangest place ever for Athabaskas. Right through an operating coal mine on tbe Gregg River. Was a beautiful trout stream reminding me of Racehorse Creek. 

The only downside was the thousands of styrofoam cups floating here and there. A product of tbe miners.

I’ve caught other Athabaska Rainbows in streams all over the place. The fish tend to be small reflecting the tough conditions of their existence.

Don

 

[albertatrout]

I know that stretch of the Gregg, can not fish any of the headwaters due to ongoing "mining" these days. Hopefully access resumes in the coming years. Though mining, logging, and forestry do a lot of damage up there mining can also result in some very unexpected positive results fishing wise when they finally finish up. I will say the rainbow fishing improved greatly in the Gregg, McLeod, Embarras, and surrounding drainage over the past 15 years. Whether or not the purity of the rainbows has improved or worsened no one can really know. Beautiful tough little fish for sure. The government even uses some of those genetics in the hatchery system now (strain plpl). Talking with the hatchery folks they are a surprising fish even under culture scenarios. 

[FishnChips]

Don, thank you for sharing this letter from Mr Hunt. The time-line is of particular note as from 2005 to 2018 the square root of zip has been done by either provincial or federal authorities. Most distressing indeed.  I have worked for three different nations' defence departments and I know how stupid big government can be. This is more proof, not that we needed it.

As a side discussion to this matter is this issue that the Federal gov't won't involve itself with species deemed to be exotic, such as the Brook and Brown Trout resident in the Bow River and her tributaries. The Feds'  attitude is ridiculous. The Bow River flows damn near halfway across this country, changing name and characteristics in the process. Yes, the Brown and Brook species were introduced to AB years ago with the best of intentions to enhance sport fishery. It was a mistake from the purist's point of view. We have goofy hybridization all over the place. (In a study done on Bill Griffiths Creek, east of Canmore, AB a few years ago, the team harvested a Brook/Bull hybrid. It was the only one they thought they found in their electrofishing exercise, and they killed it to examine it). I doubt very much that on the basis of a single perceived example of hybridization between the exotic Brook and the native Bull that the Feds will become involved. Short of the extreme solution proffered above by Albertatrout using rotenone to kill everything and starting back from square one with a genetically pure stock and preventing any type of fishing for a few years until populations gain traction, there doesn't seem to be a solution.

The Bull trout is the Native and symbolic fish of the Province of Alberta. It is distinct and special. It deserves protection. By everyone and before it's too late.

The government can and does do "dumb stuff", it happens for a huge variety of complex and cascading reasons. Usually one well-meant decision ends up creating another set of previously unforeseen problems to solve. One of the other challenges is that there are usually several options deemed possible by the interested party and a kind of option paralysis sets in... (I see this with my beloved when a waiter sets a menu in front of her at a restaurant! LOL, it is a very common human trait). 

The Bull Trout is already protected in AB, but it is capable of hybridization with at least one of the two known exotics. I wonder if the Feds might be provoked into getting off their duffs and getting involved? What will it take? How can we ensure they even know about the problem? I have zero faith in either the Prov or Fed fisheries authorities. They are two engaged and well-meaning parties engaged in tug of war in a zero-sum game. Neither side willing to budge from their separate and differing agendas. This is a legacy headed for disaster.

[McLeod]

While I don't disagree with the criticism towards the feds...The Province and those employees who had the chance to do address many of these issues did nothing.