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01-26-2007, 12:31 PM
Cutthroat trout’s survival at risk
Alberta has toomany anglers, not enough fish-bearing lakes
HANNEKE BROOYMANS Journal Staff Writer
EDMONTON
hbrooymans@ thejournal.canwest.com
Alberta’s westslopecutthroat trout’s survivalmay be threatened.
Both this trout and the lake sturgeon, also native to Alberta, have been recommended by the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to be included on the official list of species at risk.
In August, the federal minister of environment will receive a report from the committee, recommending he make the designation legal.
Since this power was enshrined in the Species at Risk Act in 2003, 84 per cent of about 185 species sent to the minister have been put on the list. But not one of the seven recommended marine fish made thecut, saidJeffHutchings, committeechairman.
The primary reason given for not listing marine fish is that it could hurt the economies of the communities on the coasts, said Hutchings, who is in Edmonton this week.
In Alberta, fish species struggle mainly because there are too many anglers and too few fish-bearing lakes, said Joe Nelson, a University of Alberta professor emeritus of biology.
The westslope cutthroat trout is in trouble also because at one time it was deliberately hybridized with rainbow trout.
Freshwater fishes are the second-most imperilled group, with 112 at-risk species. They are outnumberedonly by the160 at-riskplant species. OfCanada’s 13 extinct species, six havebeenfreshwater fish species, including the Banff longnose dace.
Habitat destruction and overfishing are the two top threats to freshwater fish, Hutchings said.
Much of this conflict is a result of the vital role water plays, said Claude Renaud, co-chair of the freshwater fishes committee.
Cities are built close to water, industry consumes massiveamounts of water, peoplebuilddams, and retirees build their cottages on lakefronts, often destroyingfish habitat in theprocess, saidRenaud, whois also in Edmonton for the meetings.
Alberta has toomany anglers, not enough fish-bearing lakes
HANNEKE BROOYMANS Journal Staff Writer
EDMONTON
hbrooymans@ thejournal.canwest.com
Alberta’s westslopecutthroat trout’s survivalmay be threatened.
Both this trout and the lake sturgeon, also native to Alberta, have been recommended by the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to be included on the official list of species at risk.
In August, the federal minister of environment will receive a report from the committee, recommending he make the designation legal.
Since this power was enshrined in the Species at Risk Act in 2003, 84 per cent of about 185 species sent to the minister have been put on the list. But not one of the seven recommended marine fish made thecut, saidJeffHutchings, committeechairman.
The primary reason given for not listing marine fish is that it could hurt the economies of the communities on the coasts, said Hutchings, who is in Edmonton this week.
In Alberta, fish species struggle mainly because there are too many anglers and too few fish-bearing lakes, said Joe Nelson, a University of Alberta professor emeritus of biology.
The westslope cutthroat trout is in trouble also because at one time it was deliberately hybridized with rainbow trout.
Freshwater fishes are the second-most imperilled group, with 112 at-risk species. They are outnumberedonly by the160 at-riskplant species. OfCanada’s 13 extinct species, six havebeenfreshwater fish species, including the Banff longnose dace.
Habitat destruction and overfishing are the two top threats to freshwater fish, Hutchings said.
Much of this conflict is a result of the vital role water plays, said Claude Renaud, co-chair of the freshwater fishes committee.
Cities are built close to water, industry consumes massiveamounts of water, peoplebuilddams, and retirees build their cottages on lakefronts, often destroyingfish habitat in theprocess, saidRenaud, whois also in Edmonton for the meetings.