Sampling needed before fish study can proceed in Pass
Posted By By Jessica Cyr
Posted 1 year ago
For the last week, fish biologists from the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) have been electrofishing in the Crowsnest River.
The ACA, which has existed since 1997, is a not-for-profit, registered charity largely funded by Alberta’s hunters and anglers through license levies, and a growing list of corporate partners.
Electrofishing is a sampling technique that places controlled amounts of electricity into the water to temporarily stun fish, allowing them to be captured by dip net, explained Fish Biologist Trevor Council.
In 2010, the ACA plans to conduct a trout population assessment in the Crowsnest Drainage said Council.
However, before the assessment can be done, some preliminary data collection needs to be completed this summer in order to decide the size and amount of sample sites needed.
Length of sample sites will vary with stream width, and will range from 150 to 1,000 meters, depending on location of the sites within the drainage, said Council.
Unfortunately, the recent rain has delayed the sampling, because the flow of the river increased in volume, resulting in decreased visibility.
“Under these conditions, sampling is unsafe and inefficient,” said Council.
However, sampling can begin again once the water recedes and visibility improves.
Because sport fishing is an integral part of the local economy, bringing anglers and their families to visit and make purchases from businesses in the Crowsnest Pass, studies like the one the ACA plans for 2010 are important.
According to Council, the data that fish biologists collect in their study will provide fishery managers greater ability to protect and conserve the trout populations.
The biologists use two methods, backpack and tote barge electrofishers, to capture the fish. With the backpack method, there are two crews of two people, and on barge electrofishing the minimum crew size is four people.
Once the fish are captured they are temporarily retained until a weight, length, and assessment of hooking damage is completed.
All fish are then released immediately back to the river in which they were captured.
The Crowsnest Drainage Trout Population Assessment is jointly funded by the Alberta Conservation Association and Devon Canada Corporation.
Annually, ACA directs more than $10 million towards conservation efforts, delivering a wide variety of projects, programs and services across the province. Key conservation programs delivered through the ACA include wildlife, fisheries, land management and communications.
