Fisheries Meeting in Rocky Mountian House

Don Andersen · #1 01-30-2012, 09:23 AM

Guys,

The Fish & Wildlife Division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is having a public information meeting on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in Rocky Mountain House. The meeting will provide an opportunity for people to view presentations on local fisheries, wildlife and enforcement matters in the Clearwater Area. The meeting will be held at the Walking Eagle Motor Inn (4915 - Hwy 11) in Rocky Mountain House between 7 pm and 10 pm that evening.

Note: This meeting is about wildlife as well. Maybe something will be done on the Otter issue.

greylynx · #2 01-30-2012, 01:32 PM

Will the ADM of SRD and local MLA be there?

Don Andersen · #3 01-30-2012, 05:42 PM

greylynx,

Doubt it - never attended before.

Don

kaleh01 · #4 02-08-2012, 06:04 PM

Good on you for keeping us in the loop Don.

I'll inform the old man as I won't make it.

Don Andersen · #5 02-17-2012, 08:23 AM

Folk,

Otters were a hop topic. SRD wants to do a inventory and plan "sustainable" harvest. Hopefully within 2 years.
When asked if otters were ever part of the Central Alberta landscape they told us that one person who they found in the office has seen one about 30 years ago. On the other hand, they rejected the comments and phone calls by other Albertans about otters seen as anecdotal evidence.
There was @ least one of Farley Mowatt trained biologists there representing some group or another.

Don

duffy4 · #6 02-17-2012, 11:41 AM

Hey Don you were fairly quiet at the meeting. (I thought I heard a muffled "Bull Ship" a couple times from the area you were siting in).

"There was @ least one of Farley Mowatt trained biologists there representing some group or another."

Can't figure out what you mean by this???

bullgetter · #7 02-17-2012, 11:59 AM

They must have some record of accidental otter catches with guys trapping beaver?

duffy4 · #8 02-17-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullgetter

They must have some record of accidental otter catches with guys trapping beaver?

Yes of course the increase in incidental catch by trappers over the years has lead to some areas getting some otter quotas. And the continued increas in incidental catch (and comments by anglers who have been seeing more otters on some of the trout stocked lakes and trout streams) has prompted F&W to look into the population more deeply (a two year otter study in the Clearwater Area).

In the past "managing" fish predators has not normally been part of fisheries management. And Wildlife Management sometimes has a different view of the importance of stocking "exotic fish" in Alberta waters.

Don Andersen · #9 02-17-2012, 06:06 PM

Duf..

No point in blowing up. SRD was typically doing what they do best.

Don

Nait Hadya · #10 02-17-2012, 07:47 PM

any mention of the incidental catches of cougar at wolf baits? numbers?

greylynx · #11 02-17-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Duf..

No point in blowing up. SRD was typically doing what they do best.

Don

Another dog, goat, and pony show.

If you want to survive to get that pension in SRD you keep your mouth shut, and do what you are told.

duffy4 · #12 02-18-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duffy4

Hey Don you were fairly quiet at the meeting. (I thought I heard a muffled "Bull Ship" a couple times from the area you were siting in).

"There was @ least one of Farley Mowatt trained biologists there representing some group or another."

Can't figure out what you mean by this???

Don I was serious with the question.

Don Andersen · #13 02-18-2012, 11:21 AM

Ever read Farley Mowat. Should be under the fiction section in the library.

The woman sitting about 1 row behind and 4 seats to the right of you represented some goofy organization or another. Pegged her for what she was by the comment "great to see otters moving back to their traditional range". Like how would she know?

As far as being quiet. I think two of the questions asked and NOT answered speak for themselves:

1] In order to determine "sustainable harvest" I asked what was the original number of otters in the Central Alberta Area.

2] What volume/%/number above the original number of otters will be removed?

And you hit the nail right on the head with regards to how wildlife management sees things.
The only things thing actively manage are game birds, fur bearers and big game animals. All other predators - it's hands off - things like otters/raccoons/foxes/ravens/crows/magpies/skunks/ and the list could go on forever. The real big question that should be asked is how in the hell Wildlife management will manage for a single species ignoring the others with their effects on each other.

And frankly as far as Wildlife Management - I got a real kick outta the Biologist telling the audience that The Biologists has a Eureka moment when they discovered in a isolated group of individuals if you whack the biggest and best you will end up with runts. Damn, we should hauled them off to the nearest farmer for some education.

What's the point of yelling @ them. They do their best. The evidence is clear.

Don

duffy4 · #14 02-18-2012, 01:24 PM

ahhhhh! Have a nice day Don!

walking buffalo · #15 02-18-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Ever read Farley Mowat. Should be under the fiction section in the library.

The woman sitting about 1 row behind and 4 seats to the right of you represented some goofy organization or another. Pegged her for what she was by the comment "great to see otters moving back to their traditional range". Like how would she know?

As far as being quiet. I think two of the questions asked and NOT answered speak for themselves:

1] In order to determine "sustainable harvest" I asked what was the original number of otters in the Central Alberta Area.

2] What volume/%/number above the original number of otters will be removed?

And you hit the nail right on the head with regards to how wildlife management sees things.
The only things thing actively manage are game birds, fur bearers and big game animals. All other predators - it's hands off - things like otters/raccoons/foxes/ravens/crows/magpies/skunks/ and the list could go on forever. The real big question that should be asked is how in the hell Wildlife management will manage for a single species ignoring the others with their effects on each other.

And frankly as far as Wildlife Management - I got a real kick outta the Biologist telling the audience that The Biologists has a Eureka moment when they discovered in a isolated group of individuals if you whack the biggest and best you will end up with runts. Damn, we should hauled them off to the nearest farmer for some education.

What's the point of yelling @ them. They do their best. The evidence is clear.

Don

The farm education won't help. If Wildlife managers think regulated hunting influences genetic selection in a wild population with multiple sources of Non-hunted migrants involved in reproduction, then we do have a problem with the Eureka moment.

Farmers know the herd's genetics can't be controlled without controlling 100% of the breeding.

Hopefully more people will recognize a sales pitch when it is given to them.