Grey,
The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback from stakeholders on listing certain populations of bull trout in Alberta as "threatened". These populations were already listed as "threatened" by COSEWIC in 2012. A comment period is required (I believe) before they can get the same listing under SARA.
The survey could be manipulated, like any other. I think that needs to be weighed against the government NOT receiving ANY comment and concluding nobody cares about bull trout so they aren't worth protecting.
If you are worried about a "threatened" listing leading to a ban on fishing, cutthroat have been listed as "threatened" under SARA and COSEWIC since 2012 and there hasn't been a ban, and to my knowledge it was never part of the recovery plan.
This is about more than just bull trout. Any recovery plan would have to address habitat loss which would also benefit Alberta cutthroat trout currently listed as "threatened".
The comment period closes July 15, 2015.
Your call.
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