OTHER INFORMATION

Sport Fish of Alberta / Trout Identification / Bull Trout Identification / Fish Consumption Advisory / Report-A-Pocher /
Free Fishing Weekends / Triploid Trout FaQ Sheet

Trout Identification

The following illustrates important characteristics for identifying common trout species. Alberta’s Fish Identification web site is found at srd.alberta.ca or mywildalberta.com.

Bull Trout Identification

NO BLACK PUT IT BACK!
Bull trout populations in Alberta declined mainly because of overharvest by anglers. No bull trout caught in any waters may be kept. If you catch a bull trout, release it immediately. You will be helping the recovery of this important native fish. Remember, the bull trout is our official provincial fish emblem. Study the pictures below and learn how to recognize bull trout.
Bull trout have no black spots on their dorsal fin.

BULL TROUT - NO BLACK SPOTS ON DORSAL FIN
BROOK TROUT - BLACK SPOTS ON DORSAL FIN

Fish Consumption Advisory

Mercury: Health Canada has set fish consumption guidelines based on the concentration of mercury in fish tissue, and the human body's ability to eliminate mercury at a slow rate (see table below). Most mercury accumulation in Alberta fish come from natural sources.

Dioxin and Furan: Toxic airborne substances from burning organics and waste-water discharges from industrial sites. Alberta Health and Wellness has compiled fish consumption advisories for the waterbodies exposed to unsafe levels of contaminants. Recommended limits for Brook Trout: 1 serving/week for waters within 20 kms of Swan Hills; Burbot: only fillet portions from the Athabasca River downstream of Iron Point, the Wapiti, Cutbank, Kakwa, Smoky and Little Smoky rivers and tributaries. Mountain Whitefish: pregnant women and young children should avoid, others should limit consumption to no more than 4 servings/week from the Wapiti, Cutbank, Kakwa, Simonette, Smoky and Little Smoky rivers and tributaries.
For detailed information about fish consumption advisories, please contact Alberta Health and Wellness at (780) 427-4518.

Recommended Fish Consumption Limits for Fish Species in Alberta Water Bodies

Report-A-Poacher

Alberta Conservation Association’s REPORT A POACHER program provides Albertans with the opportunity to report suspected violations using a toll-free number:
1-800-642-3800 or #3800 on the TELUS Mobility network (courtesy TELUS Mobility). The line is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fishing or hunting out of season, night hunting, exceeding bag limits, illegal sale of fish and wildlife and deposit of harmful substances in lakes and rivers are violations that seriously affect fish and wildlife in Alberta. If you see or know of a violation, you should record all information, including

• date
• time
• location
• vehicle licence number
• vehicle description
• description of person(s) involved
• details of violation, and any other details, no matter how insignificant they may seem. You should then contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office or call 1-800-642-3800 as soon as possible.

If the information provided concerns a resource violation and results in the laying of a charge, the reporter may be eligible for a reward. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office.

Free Fishing Weekends

National Fishing Week July 3-11, 2010
Canada’s National Fishing Week in 2009 is scheduled for July 4-12.
Alberta has teamed with other provincial, territorial and federal governments and private partners to promote the enjoyment and tradition of sportfishing. For more information please contact your local office of the Fish and Wildlife Division.

FREE Fishing Weekends July 10-11, 2010 & February 19-21, 2011
To encourage folks to give fishing a try, any person may fish without an Alberta Sportfishing Licence on these dates but they must follow all other rules and regulations as outlined in this guide. These weekends coincide with Canada’s National Fishing Week and Alberta Family Day.

Triploid Trout FaQ Sheet

What is a triploid trout?
When fish spawn, the female eggs possess two sets of chromosomes, and the male sperm possess one set. After the eggs are fertilized, the chromosomes recombine, and each egg inherits one set of chromosomes from the female and another set from the male – similar to humans. The third set is then kicked out of the egg. By exposing trout eggs to pressure or by placing eggs in a warm water bath shortly after fertilization, the ability to kick out that third set of chromosomes is inhibited and the third set of chromosomes is retained, creating a triploid trout.

What are the advantages of triploid trout over diploid trout?

• Triploid fish look, swim, jump and taste like normal fish, except they never develop normal eggs or sperm and are unable to reproduce.
  
• Researchers have also found that while triploid fish have a slightly slower growth rate than normal trout, they can reach a larger size. This can be explained by the fact that triploid trout do not develop sex organs and continue to grow at the same rate while normal trout spend a lot of their energy in the production of eggs and sperm. In many Salmonids, sterility means that fish will live longer, resulting in some trophy individuals.

Do triploid trout develop sexual characteristics?
Yes. Males may have reduced gonadal growth and go through colour changes, develop hooked jaws and may try to spawn with female trout during the spawning season even though they are infertile. Triploid female trout do not develop any secondary sexual characteristics and do not participate in spawning.

Do triploid trout survive better than normal trout?
Fish culturists have observed a slight increase in mortality of triploid trout during incubation and early life stages. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that the survival of stocked triploid trout may be higher than stocked diploid trout due to the fact that they are not exposed to the stressors associated with spawning activity.

Why stock triploid trout in Alberta?
Triploid fish are stocked in Alberta for:
Conservation Stockings in areas where there is a probability of stocked fish escapement and the risk of negative impact on native fish populations is anticipated. Many of Alberta’s native fish populations are considered to be “Sensitive” and populations are managed using restrictive regulations. Stocking diploids can result in unwanted hybridization, predation, or competition with native species. Triploid stockings eliminate the potential for hybridization and by stopping stockings, other concerns can be eliminated within one life cycle.

“Quality Fisheries” or stocked fisheries whose main objective is to have the capability to produce 50 cm plus trout within a minimum of four years of stocking.

“Put-Grow-Take” fisheries generally involve stocking small fish, which need to grow in the wild before they are ready to be harvested. Typically these are productive waters that can sustain fish populations throughout the year, but have limited or no spawning habitat for the stocked fish.

Are triploid fish safe to eat?
Yes. Triploid fish are not considered genetically modified organisms because there is no introduction of genetic material from other organisms. Triploid fish have been produced for sport fishing and commercial use for over 20 years. Triploid production is common not only in fish, but also many other foods such as bananas and seedless watermelon.