In this May 31 2020 issue of the Blue Fish Canada News we thought the time was right to pay homage to the ultimate shore fishing experience, Common Carp. Now’s the time to get out there and intercept these shoals of bruans that make their annual spring appearance.

This week’s Blue Fish Canada News also includes:

• Live coverage, interviews and resources designed to fire up your Carp fishing engine;
• Links to timely fishing, fish health, water quality and other news; and
• Blue Fish Canada Carp Fishing Best Practices.

**Don’t forget to take this week’s Blue fish Steward 12-question Quiz and enter your name to win one of seven great prizes totaling $750 in value**

Canada’s World-Class Carp Fishing

As the water begins warming Common Carp move into the shallows to feed and spawn – not simultaneously, but the point is they make their appearance. Brought to Canada in the early 1900’s from Eastern Europe as a “comfort food” their status in North America has long since transitioned from “invader” to that of “sportfish”? Well maybe not sportfish yet, but if what happened in Europe makes it over to this side of the pond, these fish might just someday become regarded as a truly prize catch.

Our friends at Fish’n Canada believe in carp fishing so much they bought the business. In 2018 they began hosting the FNC Carp Cup, and in 2019 Blue Fish Radio was on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River to speak with the different teams competing in the grueling weekend-long tournament: https://bluefishradio.com/fishn-canada-carp-cup-live/

A big issue many believe to be slowing the growth of carp fishing in Ontario is the inability of anglers to use multiple fishing lines such as the case in the U.S. and Europe. Blue Fish Radio spoke with Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, who committed to have this inequity addressed: https://bluefishradio.com/ontario-gives-carp-fishing-a-long-needed-boost/

I think a big part of the issue behind carp fishing being slow to take off in Canada also has to do with the threat of invasive Bighead and Silver Carp making their way up the Mississippi River and threatening to wreak havoc on the ecosystems within the Great Lakes. While all carp may not be made the same, there’s no doubt that the threat of these filter-feeding disruptors is real as discussed with our friends at Save the River in Clayton NY on this episode of Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/save-river-looks-halt-spread-asian-carp/

The Ontario Federation of Angling and Hunting are also hard at work raising awareness of the danger invasive carp species represent as explained by one of their campaigners on Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/invading-species-toronto-sportsman-show/

If you want to learn about the basics and more advanced techniques and equipment commonly used by carp anglers, this on-line resource full of great articles featuring one of the greats in the carp fishing world, Jeff Vaughan , were written especially for carp fishing in Ontario: https://www.ontariocarpfishing.com/

It’s a good time to go carp fishing with your family, those your sheltering with, or a fishing buddy that you can count on to adhere to social distancing. Shorelines provide ample space to spread out, and once you get set up, it’s pretty much wait-and-see. Early mornings and later in the afternoon are generally your best bites, but mid-day can provide steady action as well. So, pack up your kit, some food and drink, and your favorite outdoor chair and go fish. For tips on where, visit Carp Anglers Group Ontario on Facebook and the folks there will be happy to offer advice.

Fishing, fish Health and Water Quality News

Fishing:

Salmon closures announced for Skeena and Nass watersheds —| Smithers Interior News
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced widespread closures to recreational salmon fishing affecting all fresh water areas of the North Coast. The notice expands on the May 21 chinook ban throughout Skeena watershed.

Lake Superior anglers are asked to avoid the overharvest of steelhead — Duluth News Tribune
As Lake Superior gradually warms up this spring and the fishing heats up, fisheries biologists are asking anglers to pay closer attention to their catch. Steelhead/rainbow trout and Coho salmon are cousins of a sort, both in the Salmonidae family, but conservation measures in place for Steelhead means knowing which-is-which is important. . They look close enough alike that some anglers are keeping steelhead to kill and eat thinking they are Coho.

Lake Erie Expected to Provide Great Walleye Fishing this summer — The Fishing Wire
World-class fishing continues to exceed expectations on Lake Erie in 2020, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Walleye harvest rates set records for the second straight year in 2019. Top Lake Erie walleye catch rates from 2019 were in June, July and May, respectively. Numerous large hatches point to an increasingly bright future for Lake Erie.

Pandemic complicates salmon angling in Quebec — Atlantic Salmon Federation
Anglers are experiencing challenges over the Covid-19 restrictions and their impacts on the salmon angling rivers in Quebec.

Indonesian lockdown heralds micro fishing craze — Angling International
A Japanese style of micro fishing has become increasingly popular during the lockdown in Indonesia. Inspired by senior anglers, Budi Wi and Harry Buana, Ispull Micra Fishing Tanago (IMFT), has taken off because it can be carried out close to home in the smaller rivers.

Crappie USA Reschedules Tournaments
The first and largest crappie tournament organization in the world, and the founder of the American Crappie Association, the first and largest association of crappie anglers, has announced new dates for some of its events. Events have been moved back and safety precautions have been put in place, but the tournament group still plans on holding 10 competitions this year.

Competition fishing given go-ahead across England — Angling International
Competition fishing in England can be resumed immediately across all disciplines after Government approval was given this week. Competition anglers are among the sport’s highest spenders and the return of matches will be a welcome boost for the industry. Separate guidelines have been produced for game, coarse and sea angling.

Plea of South African anglers falls on deaf ears as fishing ban remains in force — Angling International
John Pledger is the head of the representative body of anglers across South Africa, and has expressed his disappointment at a lack of response from Government ministers to its plea to allow angling to resume during the COVID-19 crisis. The South African Consolidated Recreation Anglers Association (SACRAA) wrote to six senior politicians, including the head of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, asking them to act now to save many businesses threatened with closure.

Fish Health:

Salmon expected to begin arriving soon at Fraser River landslide — Times Colonist
Parts of a pneumatic fish pump dubbed the salmon cannon have arrived at the site of a massive landslide along British Columbia’s Fraser River. A fish ladder that’s nearly complete would attract salmon, guiding them into a holding pond before they enter the fish pump and tube system that will take them up river and over the slide.

5 Ways Hatchery Fish Hurt Our Wild Salmon — Skeena Wild Video
Large scale hatcheries may seem like an easy answer to dwindling fish stocks; however, new research shows that they tend to do more harm than good. There is limited food out in the ocean – especially in recent years due to warming ocean temperatures – and with billions of hatchery fish entering the ocean every year from large production hatcheries, they compete with wild salmon for limited food. But small, community hatcheries have less impact and can be important for restoration of individual stocks.

Water Quality:

How the St. Lawrence River’s Ups and Downs Impact Biodiversity — St. Lawrence River Institute
River water level fluctuations are a natural phenomenon that help shape aquatic communities. However, the St Lawrence River (SLR) water levels have been managed for the past 60 years. Join River Institute Research Scientist, Matt Windle, Wednesday June 3 @ 7pm [online], for a talk on what the SLR used to be like and how aquatic life have adapted to the changes over the years. Matt will also discuss his studies to compare the biodiversity of Hoople Bay to other sections of the river that do not experience the same severe water level fluctuations and to track seasonal biodiversity changes.

Remove dam, let St. Croix River run freely, says Fundy Baykeeper — CBC News
With New Brunswick’s Milltown Generating Station no longer viable, decommissioning of the Milltown Generating Station and dam would provide an ecological boost to the St. Croix River and an economic boost to region say Matt Abbott, the Fundy Baykeeper of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Industry:

National Outdoor Groups Release Six “Recreate Responsibly” Tips
A newly formed coalition of outdoor groups has created the Recreate Responsibly initiative to share ways for anglers to stay healthy while enjoying public lands, parks, trails, waters, and other outdoor areas.

Boating:

New On-Line Resources to Help Canadian Boaters Navigate COVID-19 — Discover Boating Canada
With Canada’s pleasure boating restrictions being lifted and the season ramping up, DiscoverBoating.ca has launched two new pages to help Canadian boaters find the latest information on enjoying boating while navigating COVID-19 guidelines.

Boating During COVID-19 features guidelines set by Transport Canada and includes helpful, printable infographics for NMMA Canada members to use in their businesses and share with customers.

Coronavirus and Boat Shopping: What You Should Know provides Canadians comprehensive insights into buying a boat during this time, from scheduling appointments and closing the deal, to service and support, plus Discover Boating resources to research and shop online.

Business:

Locals First – Creating Experiences to Appeal to the Local Market — Free Webinar
On June 3rd, 2020 – 11:00 am EDT catch this webinar geared to tourism / outfitting businesses interested in attracting local customers. Learn how to adjust your product offering and experiences to appeal to local customers (e.g. family, couples, and outdoor adventure, culinary).

Arts:

In conversation with Robert Bateman on his 90th birthday — The Narwhal
Iconic Canadian artist and naturalist reflects on his life and his work

Blue Fish Canada Common Carp Sustainability Fishing Tips

1. Rod, reel, line and tackle should be of sufficient strength to control carp properly to avoid over-tiring fish, keep them away from snags, and to prevent fish from breaking off or spooling your reel.
2. Soak bait such as corn or nuts to ensure bait doesn’t swell in the stomachs of fish.
3. Use non-offset circle or barbless hooks, or hooks with micro-barbs, to reduce the chance of deep-hooking fish and to minimize hook wounds.
4. Use smooth leader material or a rubberized coating to prevent injuring fins and scales while playing carp.
5. Use lead weight release devices to ensure fish don’t become tethered to snags.
6. Don’t fish along shores or on peers subject to large waves to prevent injuring fish.
7. Make sure nets and weigh slings are knot-free or rubber and of sufficient size, and ensure fins are flat against the fish’s body when placed in weigh sack.
8. Keep forceps, needle nose plyers and hook cutters handy to remove hooks quickly, treat hook holes with an appropriate antiseptic, and use unhooking mats to prevent injuries to fish.
9. Wet unhooking mats and weigh slings prior to use to avoid removing protective slime from fish.
10. Wet hands and forearms and carry fish by supporting their bodies near the pectoral and anal fins. Be sure not to remove protective slime with your dry clothing.

About us:

You can read current and back issues of Blue Fish Canada’s Newsletters by visiting: www.bluefishcanada.ca

For more about Lawrence Gunther, North America’s only blind professional angler, conservationist, writer, blogger, podcaster, film maker and TV personality, visit: www.LawrenceGunther.com

Gunther founded the charity Blue Fish Canada in 2012 and launched the podcast Blue Fish Radio in 2013.

Please rate The Blue fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast so others will learn of this unique Canadian resource by visiting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blue-fish-radio-show/id1090189487

Should you have a podcast suggestion or resource you would like to share, please send us a message to: admin@bluefishcanada.ca

Blue Fish Canada is a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity. Please consider making a small monthly donation to off-set the costs of this Newsletter and our other Blue Fish Canada programs by visiting: https://bluefishcanada.ca/donations/

In this May 24, 2020 issue of the Blue Fish Canada News we wanted to focus on the human side of fishing. Topics like anglers who become giants of the fishing world, or those who are successful in other ways but use fishing as a way to unwind. Just as importantly, we thought we should include some information just in case all this Covid-19 business is beginning to get you down.

This week’s News includes:

• Two giants in the fishing world currently hunkered down and dreaming about fishing
• The latest water quality, fish health and fishing news
• Tips for staying mentally fit as we begin to re-open society and the outdoors!

Giants in the World of Fishing:

Every couple months Blue Fish Radio reaches out to one of the giants in the fishing world for a check-in on their take on the state of fish and fishing. Most recently we found Jeremy Wade from River Monsters and singer songwriter and angler Uncle Kracker at their respective homes sheltering from Covid-19.

Jeremy Wade is UK’s “Sherlock Holmes” of angling. His magical blend of solving underwater mysteries through careful planning, local knowledge and a hook-and-line has been capturing the imagination of viewers for over 15 years starting with his world renowned series “River Monsters”. It’s a return to the origins of the true spirit of angling that’s inspiring the next generation of curious and conservation minded anglers. Link below to hear Jeremy in conversation with host Lawrence Gunther on this first of this two part Blue Fish Radio installment in the series “Giants of the Fishing World”: https://bluefishradio.com/river-monster-host-jeremy-wade-part-1-of-2/

In this final installment of our interview with Jeremy Wade from the River Monster series, we dive deeper into what it takes to produce the magical moments Jeremy has been creating to inform and entertain mainstream TV viewers for over 15 years. We also explore Jeremy’s books and his role as an international fish art competition judge. Find out what makes Jeremy tick, and why anglers – and especially youth – are embracing Jeremy’s thirst for adventure and insatiable curiosity to seek out and reveal the freshwater animals called fish: https://bluefishradio.com/river-monster-host-jeremy-wade-part-2-of-2/

Last but not least, Matthew Shafer, AKA by his stage name Uncle Kracker, is an American singer-song writer and musician known for his rock and now country music. Matt is also a big fan of fishing, and lives in Michigan on the shores of Lake St. Clair where he keeps his 25-foot centre console. Uncle Kracker’s musical career includes hit singles Follow Me, Smile, Drift Away and Floatin, and collaborating and touring with Kid Rock and his group Twisted Brown Trucker. Since 1999 Matt has recorded five records as a solo artist Double Wide (2000), No Stranger to Shame (2002), Seventy Two and Sunny (2004), Happy Hour (2009), Midnight Special 2012, and now his hit single Floatin (2018). Link below to hear Matt in conversation with Lawrence Gunther as they explore the challenges of writing songs that reference fishing without having them sound corny, and what it takes to get your kids interested in fishing, on this special “Fishing Musicians” episode of Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/singer-and-angler-uncle-kracker-on-fishing-during-troubling-times/

The Latest Water Quality, Fish Health and Fishing News

Fishing:

Fishing in Canada during Covid-19 – Keep Canada Fishing
Fishing has been and always will be important to the mental well-being of Canadians. It is an ecologically sound method of putting healthy food on the table and a crucial part of the Canadian economy. To help us all get through these trying times, Keep Canada Fishing has compiled a Code of Conduct based on the current recommendations of health officials.

Port Alberni cancels 49th annual Salmon Festival – Port Alberni Valley News
In what many consider the world capital of salmon fishing, it couldn’t have been an easy decision for Port Alberni to cancel their Salmon Festival. Salmon is the foundation of the Port Alberni economy and the social backbone of the various First Nations and non-indigenous communities situated along this amazing salmon runway. The festival will be rescheduled to 2021.

Fish Health:

Take a Survey to conserve and restore Alberta’s native trout
Native trout are some of the most threatened species in Alberta, but there is little public awareness of native fish and their threats. The Native Trout Collaborative Communications project is a joint project aiming to increase awareness of recovery, habitat and threats to native trout in Alberta. Multiple organizations in Alberta are collaborating in this joint effort including Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Conservation Association, Cows and Fish, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta Chapter, Trout Unlimited Canada, and Foothills Research Institute.

Live gene bank only hope for inner Bay of Fundy salmon – CBC News
The survival of Atlantic salmon in the inner Bay of Fundy is now almost entirely dependent on two federal fish hatcheries, according to a new and dire population estimate released by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Smolt tagging and Tracking on the Miramichi – Atlantic salmon Federation
With the longest unbroken data series on Atlantic salmon migration in the world at risk, Atlantic Salmon Foundation Jonathan Car and his son Evan take their social bubble north for smolt tagging and tracking on the Miramichi.

U.S. Fishing Industry urges Trump Administration to deny Pebble Mine proposal in Alaska – Angling International
More than 250 US outdoor sporting businesses and organisations have urged President Donald Trump to safeguard American jobs and industry by denying a key permit for the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The letter comes as the US Army Corps of Engineers is poised to release its final Environmental Impact Statement in the coming months, a key document in the permitting process for the large gold and copper mining proposal. The Pebble Limited Partnership is now 100% owned by The Northern Dynasty Partnership, which is a wholly owned Canadian-based subsidiary of Northern Dynasty Minerals, Limited. The letter was delivered by the CEOs of The Orvis Company.

Indigenous:

Living with Sea Otters Next Door – Hakai Magazine
Ecologists and Indigenous leaders are developing strategies to help communities cope with resurgent sea otter populations.

Water Quality:

Protecting Champlain-Missiquoi and Memphremagog from Harmful Algal Blooms – International Joint Commission
Public concerns regarding water quality and harmful algal blooms in Lake Champlain-Missisquoi Bay and Lake Memphremagog have continued to grow over the past decade. The International Joint Commission (IJC), in response to a request from Canadian and United States governments, has issued a report with recommendations on how federal, state, provincial and local governments can work together to clean up the water. Harmful algal blooms produce toxins that can affect human health, pets, ecosystems and wildlife. They also impact recreational activities in the summer, local economies and threaten the safety of drinking water. The blooms occur due to high phosphorus levels in the lakes from sources including cities and farms.

Study finds micro plastics in birds of prey – EarthSky
Past studies have documented increasing amounts of micro plastics in the guts of fish, marine birds, and filter-feeding invertebrates, such as oysters. Now a new study has confirmed the presence of micro plastics in birds of prey – including hawks, ospreys and owls – for the 1st time.

Boating:

Clean Drain Dry Initiative Unveils New Tools to Fight Invasive Species
Wildlife Forever’s Clean Drain Dry Initiative has developed new and innovative products to help stop the spread of invasive species. Across the country, invasives are forcing managers to create new restrictions to protect natural resources. Invasive species destroy native habitat and are a leading cause for endangered species listing. Stakeholders are encouraged to use the ready-made materials on how and why Clean Drain Dry is critical to protect resources and outdoor sports.

Marina Life While Respecting Social Distancing – Boating Ontario
A webinar for marina businesses and those who frequent marinas on May 26th at 11:00 EST on defining expectations from the parking lot to the boat to the service shop, the fuel dock and everything in-between.

Electric PWC Wins Red Dot Design Award
The Taiga Orca, an all-electric personal watercraft from Canada’s Taiga Motors, has earned a Red Dot Award for outstanding design.

Maintaining Sound Mental Health

Anglers everywhere appreciate the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the outdoors. Fishing is not only a tradition that reconnects us to nature, it’s a way of releasing tension and taking a well needed break from the grind of our daily responsibilities. Unfortunately, the two most common factors linked to suicide are economic setbacks and social disconnection, according to University of Toronto Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Roger McIntyre, both factors associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Research shows that following natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, there’s a rise in suicide after the immediate physical dangers of the disaster have passed. It’s why it’s more important than ever to maintain social contact with family, friends and our neighbours now, and even more so once we begin our journey back to “normal”.

We all enjoy fishing, camping, boating, etc. but will it be enough? Experts say Now is the time to learn techniques for “mindfulness” so you will have the tools to move forward without finding yourself suddenly experiencing a mental health crisis. Just like physical exercise, mindfulness techniques can help to keep you feeling well. In the meantime, practice the following:

• Connect online: See friends and family by Zoom or phone. Feeling understood and sharing feelings of pain can help alleviate it.
• Adjust your medications if necessary: Make sure you’re on the right medication and the right amount. Many psychiatrists are taking advantage of relaxed rules from insurers regarding telemedicine, so they are still able to meet remotely with patients and can adjust medication as needed during those appointments.
• Seek teletherapy or group therapy: Teletherapy has seen massive growth for those who can find providers. Also, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are meeting online.
• Make a safety plan: Discuss with family or partners what works for you — specific measures they can take or not take when you’re in crisis. Make sure you keep guns and ammunition locked up and think about who has access to the keys, or maybe shouldn’t have access for a time.
• Develop a new routine: Quarantine has disrupted daily life, so developing new patterns that foster good sleep, healthy eating and exercise are helpful. This brings focus to the day and is helpfully distracting from thoughts of hopelessness and anxiety.
• And finally, learn mindfulness techniques and put them into practice. Just as the body needs exercise, the mind needs to enter regular periods of calm.

About us:

You can read current and back issues of Blue Fish Canada’s Newsletters by visiting: www.bluefishcanada.ca

For more about Lawrence Gunther, North America’s only blind professional angler, conservationist, writer, blogger, podcaster, film maker and TV personality, visit: www.LawrenceGunther.com

Gunther founded the charity Blue Fish Canada in 2012 and launched the podcast Blue Fish Radio in 2013.

Please rate The Blue fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast so others will learn of this unique Canadian resource by visiting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blue-fish-radio-show/id1090189487?uo=4

Should you have a podcast suggestion or resource you would like to share, please send us a message to: Admin@bluefishcanada.ca

Blue Fish Canada is a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity. Please consider making a small monthly donation to off-set the costs of this Newsletter and our other Blue Fish Canada programs by visiting: https://bluefishcanada.ca/donations/

Yours truly,

Lawrence Gunther Euteneier M.E.S. M.S.M.
President / Blue Fish Canada

In this May 17, 2020 edition of the Blue Fish Canada Newsletter:

• We continue our exploration of salmon and steelhead habitat access issues on the Fraser River; 
• More water quality, fish health and fishing news; and,
• In recognition of Safe Boating Awareness Week, we bring you a compilation of Covid-19 inspired boating and fishing best practices.

• 

Fraser River estuaries serve as nurseries to salmon and steelhead
Last week we explored the Big Bar Fraser River landslide. Today we turn our attention to measures underway to rehabilitate the salmon and steelhead rearing habitat at the mouth of the Fraser River. While some doom-and-gloom people may think the writing is on the wall regarding the salmon and steelhead that rely on the Fraser River, there’s a lot of folks who refuse to give up. Their collective efforts, often now combined with resources from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, are beginning to turn the tide on the decline of the river’s former glory. 

The Fraser River is in no way just another of many west coast rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean. It serves as a 1,375 km long freeway of sorts that links the ocean to numerous rivers and 12 distinct watersheds spread out throughout southern B.C. The steelhead and salmon that commute up and down the length of the Fraser also rely on the estuaries located near the river mouth for cover. Not just the process of smolting (shifting from living in freshwater to saltwater), but to build up the size and strength needed to survive in the open North Pacific ocean. 

Blue Fish Radio is always amazed and pleased to meet and present anglers who have dedicated huge chunks of their lives to stewarding the wild fish resources in their area. Dave Brown is another one of these local champions who may know more about the Thompson River and Chilcotin River steelhead that run up the Fraser River on Canada’s west coast. His knowledge and advocacy were recently recognized in 2017 with DFO awarding Dave the “National Recreational Fisheries Award”. Dave continues to work hard to save the iconic wild steelhead from annihilation. Link below to hear Dave Brown in conversation with Lawrence Gunther about the history, current situation, and what needs doing to save BC’s steelhead on this episode of Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/what-to-do-about-declining-fraser-river-steelhead/

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed 13 of BC’s 26 southern Chinook stocks and found eight to be endangered. Contributing to the demise of these endangered salmon and steelhead is a history of well-intentioned developments along the Lower Fraser estuary such as dykes, pump stations, dredging and infilling that were taken over the past 100 years. Thankfully, a $2.7-million habitat connectivity project funded through the $75-million coastal restoration fund — part of the federal five-year $1.5-billion oceans protection plan – is already helping to restore crucial salmon and steelhead habitat. The days of the Steveston Jetty on the lower Fraser River preventing juvenile salmon from accessing the estuary zone in Sturgeon Bank may be coming to an end. The Steveston Jetty project is one of many underway to restore access to vital salmon rearing habitat essential to the development of salmon smolts prior to their entering the Pacific Ocean. Link below to learn how Murray Manson, a restoration biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is working with angling and conservation groups on this episode of Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/dfo-on-restoring-fraser-river-salmon-habitat/

The Watershed Watch Salmon Society is devoted to addressing issues impacting wild salmon stocks throughout British Columbia. Whether it’s to improve conditions for struggling southern BC Chinook salmon stocks to help feed resident killer whales, or to ensure indigenous fishers and recreational anglers can continue to catch salmon to feed their families and sustain their coastal communities, the organization and its many volunteers are working hard to resolve spawning opportunities and habitat issues. Link to listen to Lina Azeez from Watershed Watch speak with Lawrence Gunther about their recent success in convincing BC municipalities to restore habitat for salmon smolts along the lower Fraser River on this episode of Blue Fish Radio: https://bluefishradio.com/bc-municipalities-vote-yes-wild-salmon/

It’s obvious that rebuilding Fraser River salmon and steelhead spawning and nursery habitats is a complicated issue that we have allowed to fester for far too long. Undoing the issues and reversing the decline of these important fish to the ecosystem and the socio-economic fabric of so many coastal communities will be a time consuming and costly endeavour. Thankfully, the alternatives of doing too little or nothing at all are ones that increasingly fewer people are willing to accept.

No doubt, as we learn about the success of restoration projects, our expectations will increase and still more such projects will be proposed, supported locally and funded. Ensuring that post Covid-19 infrastructure investments designed to rebuild economies include such habitat improvement considerations is something we all need to keep a watch over.

Call to Action:

Wild Salmon in the Age of Covid – Watershed Watch Salmon Society
With governments poised to implement a new round of infrastructure investments, we have an opportunity to rebuild endangered wild salmon populations, while securing good local jobs and protecting communities.

Ask federal and B.C. governments to invest in proven, fish-friendly flood control and habitat restoration projects.

Expansion of the Roberts Bank Fraser River shipping terminal – The Narwhal
A massive container terminal proposed for British Columbia’s Fraser River Delta is set to be a litmus test for the federal government’s commitment to conserve crucial Fraser River salmon habitat.

In the News:

Fishing:

Newfoundland/Labrador Government Not Selling Non-Resident Salmon Angling Licenses in 2020 – Atlantic salmon Federation
For the first in many decades, the Newfoundland / Labrador provincial government will not be selling non-resident salmon angling licenses. Not surprising with the Covid-19 pandemic, but on another level, this is a province that has encouraged salmon anglers who “come from away” for more than 125 years.

Record Numbers of Young People Discovering Fishing – National Professional Anglers Association
Across the U.S. more teens are going fishing than ever before. Some speculate it may be a result of school closures due to Covid-19. In one week, the Minnesota DNR sold a record 13,369 fishing licenses to resident teens 16 and 17 years old, a 99% increase over the year before. Minnesota fishing license sales overall increased by 44%. While most provinces in Canada don’t track sales of fishing licenses to youth, one need only drive by public access shore fishing locations to see a similar up-take in fishing here as well.

B.C. Anglers call for Salmon fishery to open to chinook retention – Squamish Chief
Sports anglers say government regulations that restrict the harvesting of Chinook salmon on the south coast, including in Howe Sound, are not based on science. Conservationist say opening is the goal, but the preservation of the stocks at risk is more important.

Trout Stocking Extravaganza – Alberta Conservation Authority
The Alberta Conservation Authority has been working hard to ensure nearly all ACA lakes have been stocked for the long weekend, and urges anglers to go catch a big delicious trout!

A Podcast about seafood and local fishers – Coastal Routes Radio
Social FISHtancing is a new podcast that presents stories of local fishers living in a time of COVID-19, brought to you by Coastal Routes Radio. It investigates the impacts of the COVID-19 on fishing families and communities across North America. Each week the hosts speak with people involved in small-scale fisheries and how their fisheries are being impacted, and how fishermen and women are responding to shifting seafood markets and consumer needs. Coastal Routes Radio is produced at the University of Guelph and is an initiative of the Coastal Routes project, a network of researchers, coastal communities, and non-profit organizations — united to support verdant, sustainable, and just coastal livelihoods and places.

Watch Major League Fishing Pros Cast Their Best Trick Shots 
Most of us have been sheltering at home to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but that hasn’t stopped many of us from practicing our casting. Major League Fishing pros were recently tasked with showing off their expert casting skills to the world and submitting their best “Trick Shot”, and the best were compiled into a video that can be viewed at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Indigenous:

Fish parcels from home: Fish Distribution by coastal B.C First Nation’s – Cowichan Valley Citizen
Despite the pandemic, Kyuquot First Nation will continue with its annual food fish distribution to Kyuquot First Nation members spread across B.C., and the US. Each receives a doorstep delivery of fish from their traditional land on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Water Quality:

Great Lakes Water Levels Webinar – International Joint Commission
The IJC recently held their 3rd water levels webinar of 2020. IJC co-chair Jane Corwin advises that forecasts show the water levels topping out at about one foot higher than where levels are now.

Fish Health:

Ontario B.A.S.S Nation Fish Care Study 
In March 2020 Jason Barnucz OBN Conservation Director attended the 2020 B.A.S.S. Conservation Summit held during the 2020 Bassmaster Classic. This bi-annual summit brings all B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Directors, Resource Managers and Fisheries Experts from across North America together to discuss conservation issues including tournament fish care, invasive species, fisheries management and more. Ontario’s Jason Barnucz presented on the 2019 Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation Live Release Study carried out at the 2019 OBN Qualifier at Rice Lake. 

Fisheries and Aquaculture minister devious and reckless – South Coast Today
The recent Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture decision to give a 20-year permit to Cooke Aquaculture to raise farmed salmon in Liverpool Bay is likely to result in the raising and selling of virus-infected salmon in the province.

The Miracle Fish – The Tyee
Salmon, amazing in so many ways, have swum in these waters for 50 million years. It’s miraculous they still do.

Restoring Balance in the Heart of the Fraser – The Nicomen Slough
The Nature Trust of British Columbia has acquired an important piece of habitat for conservation in the Heart of the Fraser known for prime spawning habitat for salmon and white sturgeon and for serving as a nursery for millions of salmon fry every year.

Industry:

Canada’s own B.A.S.S Elite Angler Jeff ‘Gussy’ Gustafson Raises Money for Covid-19 Relief
Gustafson has partnered with Shimano Canada and the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation to raise money for the Covid-19 charities of the winners choice, who will receive an autographed tournament jersey from Bassmaster Elite Angler Jeff Gustafson, and a G-Loomis E6X Rod of their choice from Shimano Canada.

Dire straits for BC’s sport-fishing – Times Colonist
Fishing guides are at home, hotels are closed and vessels are docked due to COVID-19 restrictions, and it’s not known when these seasonal businesses will be able to start up again.

Shimano’s much-anticipated ICAST product presentation Moves On-Line – Angling International
Instead of staging the showcase in its booth in Orlando, Shimano is moving it online in a virtual event scheduled for the same time it would have been held in the Orange County Convention Center this summer. Product development staff and pro-staffers will be introducing new products from Shimano, G.Loomis, PowerPro and Jackal.

Marine Retailers Association 58-page Guide to Operating Safely 
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, along with trade association partners from across the marine industry, recently released a 58-page publication aimed at helping marine dealers operate safely in a new marketplace concerned with COVID-19.

Safe Boating and Fishing

May 16-22 2020 is Safe Boating Awareness Week. With boat launches and marinas moving to open up, Blue Fish Canada conducted a scan and pulled together the following list of Covid-19 boating and fishing best practices for staying safe:

1. Maintain social distancing, other than with those whom you live, including limiting who you invite on your boat;
2. When picking up tackle or live bait, arrange to have curb-side pick-up or no contact delivery if possible, or ware a face covering and gloves if entering a store / bait shop;
3. Don’t share equipment such as nets, pliers, life jackets, water bottles, weighing or measuring equipment, fishing rods, minnow buckets or any other piece of fishing or personal gear with other anglers / boaters with whom you are social distancing;
4. Wear a mask or face covering if you’re going to be fishing or moving around people with whom you are social distancing;
5. Avoid using boat docks at launches if possible by entering and exiting your boat directly from the launch;
6. If you need to use a boat dock, avoid using ropes and cleats, wear gloves, and clean the soles of your shoes when you enter the boat. Wipe down your gunnels and sanitize your hands after departing the dock or loading your boat;
7. Avoid shore fishing locations or using launches that are congested or where others are failing to respect social distancing;
8. Don’t fish off docks where people are launching and trailering their boats, and don’t go on to a dock until the person before you is finished using it;
9. Park your vehicle far enough away from other vehicles and don’t touch anyone else’s vehicle or boat;
10. Don’t request assistance, other than from those you live with, to help launch or load your boat, or help with netting or releasing your fish. If you can’t do it yourself, then don’t go;
11. Keep your dog on a leash as dogs can transfer the virus by touching their fur;
12. Be prepared to offer help to other boaters in distress by carrying with you gloves and a mask or face covering, as well as hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes. It’s unlawful and immoral to deny another boater aid when their life is at risk.

About us:

You can read current and back issues of Blue Fish News by visiting: www.bluefishcanada.ca

For more about Lawrence Gunther, North America’s only blind professional angler, conservationist, writer, blogger, podcaster, film maker and TV personality, visit: www.LawrenceGunther.com

Gunther founded the charity Blue Fish Canada in 2012 and launched the podcast Blue Fish Radio in 2013.

Please rate The Blue fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast so others will learn of this unique Canadian resource by visiting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blue-fish-radio-show/id1090189487

Should you have a podcast suggestion or resource you would like to share, please send us a message to: Admin@bluefishcanada.ca

Blue Fish Canada is a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity. Please consider making a small monthly donation to off-set the costs of this Newsletter and our other Blue Fish Canada programs by visiting: https://bluefishcanada.ca/donations/

Yours truly,

Lawrence Gunther Euteneier, M.E.S. M.S.M.
President / Blue Fish Canada

The Blue Fish Canada News for May 10, 2020 focuses on citizen science – the tools, the challenges, and how people who thrive in the outdoors are becoming increasingly effective citizen scientists. We all take pride in following the tried-and-true lessons passed down to us from our mentors and all those who came before, but we also are finding ways to incorporate the new technologies and science-based best practices. It’s all about applying our natural curiosity in ways that satisfies our desire to go fishing while recognizing our responsibility to give back.

Enjoy this week’s Blue Fish Canada Newsletter that includes:

• An exploration of the Fraser River Big Bar landslide that has closed access to important salmon spawning grounds for various Pacific salmon and trout species;
• The latest news about water quality, fish health and the future of recreational fishing; and,
• Citizen science resources and tools that engage and empower outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

Editor Lawrence Gunther with fishing guide Thomas Rutschman holding a 2-meter Sturgeon caught below Hell’s Gate on the Lower Fraser River

Fraser River Big Bar Landslide:

In the fall of 2018 a landslide struck a remote rugged canyon of the Fraser River north of Lillooet BC. The location was so remote it wasn’t discovered until June 2019 when a group of rafters encountered the slide during the first trip of the year. Huge pieces of rock and significant debris had sheared off a 125-metre cliff, crashing into the river and creating a 5 meter high waterfall. The magnitude of the obstruction impeded migrating salmon from reaching their spawning beds. What’s happened since may go down as one of the greatest emergency responses on behalf of wild salmon anywhere in the world.

Blue Fish Radio first reported on the Big Bar landslide and it’s implication for spawning salmon and trout, and how the blockage will impact the people and watersheds that depend on the successful spawn of these fish. Mr. John Werring and Mr. Brian Braidwood shared their thoughts on the steps being taken to mitigate the impacts of the rock slide and whether it was enough to allow migrating fish passage.
https://www.spreaker.com/user/5725616/e262-fraser-river-rock-slide-blocks-acce

After hearing first-hand the concerns of anglers and conservationists, we tracked down and spoke with the founder of Whooshh Innovations Fish Passage Solution, CEO Vincent Bryan. The Whooshh “salmon cannon” was proposed as a solution, but the timing wasn’t right then. This technology is proving effective around the world at safely and efficiently moving desirable fish species past barriers, while re-routing less desirable species.
https://www.spreaker.com/user/5725616/e263-whooshh-innovations-fish-passage-so

In early April 2019 we spoke with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s lead on coordinating the multi-government response strategy, DFO Ddirector Gwil Roberts. It turned out to be quite an extensive and detailed overview of how exactly a massive landslide is removed from a river. The progress report was impressive, but also discouraging in that we learned much more work would be required and that this would take time. News: https://www.spreaker.com/user/5725616/e291-an-update-from-dfo-on-the-fraser-ri

Plans in place to facilitate salmon run at Big Bar slide site | NEWS 1130

With around one month to go before this year’s salmon run will reach the site of the 2018 landslide, DFO has been working on three different plans to help the migrating salmon make it past the five-metre waterfall there, and one of these solutions now includes installation of a 160-meter long Whooshh “salmon cannon”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salmon-cannon-coming-to-help-threatened-fraser-river-fish-bypass-rock-slide-1.5546464

The story of this Big Bar Fraser River salmon impasse is one that will continue for some time to come. Many more millions of dollars and thousands of hours of difficult and dangerous work lie ahead. The consequences of doing nothing would be tragic, which makes this story all the more pertinent during these troubling times. We as a society won’t abandon nature when it needs our collective resources even when we face other more immediate health challenges. We are a strong country made up of determined people who just don’t quit. We learn from our mistakes and live up to our responsibilities. In spite of everything, we have much to be proud of as a country made up of many different peoples.

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Links to News about Water Quality, Fish Health and the Future of Recreational Fishing

Water Quality:

Global map to reveal ‘swim ways’ of Earth’s fish – Scienceline
A small team of scientists is creating the first global “swimways” map; a tool they hope will promote stronger policies to save freshwater fish from threats like dams and overfishing.

What’s Bad for Bees Could Be Bad for Marine Life, Too – Hakai Magazine
Preliminary research shows that a popular insecticide hampers arthropods in the ocean.

Saanich crews are tackling Another Colquitz River Oil Spill – Victoria News
This is the 3rd oil spill in the Colquitz River since January. The municipality was notified of the spill Thursday night.

PEI Watershed Group Making Pandemic Adjustments
A conservation group in PEI is changing its work methods to account for the need of personal distancing and other considerations.

Fish Health:

Healthy Season Anticipated for Yukon River Salmon – KUAC
The preseason outlook for Yukon River salmon anticipates a Chinook run similar to the past ten years, but that may not mean good news for Canada.

Striped Bass is a Complex Misunderstood Fish – Coastal Review Online
Striped bass is somewhat of a mystery fish. Much of its complex behavior was poorly understood until recently.

Repeat spawning steelhead has amazing adventures – Post Register
Unlike salmon, steelhead can survive spawning and return to the ocean. If they survive in the ocean and return to spawn again, they are called repeat spawners. Such fish have been tracked throughout the Columbia River which gets its start in Canada.

Fishing:

Eight Fishing Guide Tips for Keeping Clients Safe – Fishing Wire
The American Saltwater Fishing Guide Association has released a list of eight tips to follow for keeping clients safe during the pandemic, with the hope that their industry will soon be able to return to operation.

Spring Fishing Report from the Atlantic Salmon Foundation
Enjoy the disease free wild areas where Atlantic salmon are found this spring across Canada and the Northeastern U.S.

Industry:

Shimano North America’s environmental campaigner Retires – Outdoor Wire
Shimano North America Holding has announced the retirement of its environmental campaigner for over 29 years. Phil Morlock will retire at the end of June as Vice President of Government Affairs/Advocacy for the US and Canada. From the beginning of his near 30 years tenure at the group, he recognised the potential for corporate leadership in environmental conservation, scientific research and government policy as critical for the future of fishing and mountain biking.

NMMA President Urges Boating Industry to Unite as COVID-19 Crisis Subsides
National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) president calls on the entire recreational boating industry to work together to ensure the industry exits the pandemic more relevant than when the COVID-19 crisis began.

Uptick in fishing customers seen by bait and tackle shop

Fishing Tackle Market Sees Uptick in Some Categories – ABC News Raleigh NC
With more time at home anglers have been buying more tackle and bait than ever and heading to the water.

Fish-plant job offers seen as a slap in the face by students – Miramichi Leader
Federal student support program now tied to New Brunswick government move to ban temporary foreign workers as NB’s premier maintains unemployed New Brunswickers and students on summer break can do the work.

Calls for Action:

OFAH calls for Ontario to re-open outdoor recreation
Following the release of Ontario’s framework for opening up the province, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters wrote the Premier to request that sent a letter to the Premier to request that access to the outdoors, including boat launches, provincial parks, and Crown land camping be re-opened as soon as possible during the initial stages of this plan.

COVID-19 Recovery for People and Salmon – Watershed Watch Salmon Society
Join us in calling on our governments to invest in a safer, fish-friendly, green economy. Use our one-click letter writing tool!

Citizen Science On-Line Tools and Resources:

“Citizen Science Means You” – Outdoor Canada
In this special Blue Fish Radio episode brought to you by Outdoor Canada, Lawrence Gunther speaks to a group of grade 10 students about the tradition of fishing and its link to citizen science.

Video and a Guide to Citizen Science Resources – FOCA
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association has created a short video about citizen science, and has released a Guide that includes links to a whole range of different monitoring programs across Ontario that you can engage in directly year-round.

Earth Rangers App
Earth Rangers now offers an app for mobile devices dedicated to educating children and their families about biodiversity, inspiring them to adopt sustainable behaviors that now includes recreational fishing thanks to a new partnership with Blue Fish Canada.

An Online History of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario
An excellent online presentation details the history of Atlantic salmon in the Great Lakes and prospects and the determined program to bring them back.

EDDMapS Ontario
EDDMapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System) lets ordinary citizens report invasive species. The app has a mugshot and rap sheet for Ontario’s “most wanted.” If you find a suspected eco-invader, just snap a picture. Your phone’s built-in GPS flags the exact location. Then upload your sighting to EDDMapS. Scientists, researchers, farmers, municipalities and environmentalists use your data to monitor, track and remove invasives, and protect the species that belong in the ecosystem.

iNaturalist
For exploring ecosystems around the world, iNaturalist contains over two million sightings of 85,000 species, contributed by a global community of naturalists, scientists and ordinary citizens. It’s an encyclopedia of field guides, with rich resources and projects that will satisfy the keenest nature lover.

Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas
A made-in-Ontario app designed to track of turtles, frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, and the province’s only lizard. Their numbers are shrinking. In fact, 75 percent of reptiles and 35 percent of amphibians are nationally and provincially at-risk. It takes just 30 seconds to report a sighting. So if you see a snake slide by or a snapping turtle sunning itself, take a pic and send it in. Or get involved in conservation projects like frog surveys and turtle tallies.

Water Rangers App
Use the Water Ranger app to learn about and test waterways using Water Ranger test kits, and then share water data on their open-data platform.

The Wonders of Wildlife Mission Conservation
Wonders of Wildlife is collaborating with Agents of Discovery and several leading conservation organizations to launch a campaign called Mission Conservation. This will provide parents and educators with access to Image Recognition (IR) Missions that young learners can play and share with their community.

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About us

You can read current and back issues of Blue Fish News by visiting: www.bluefishcanada.ca

For more about Lawrence Gunther, North America’s only blind professional angler, conservationist, writer, blogger, podcaster, film maker and TV personality, visit: www.LawrenceGunther.com

Gunther founded the charity Blue Fish Canada in 2012 and launched the podcast Blue Fish Radio in 2013.

Please rate The Blue fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast so others will learn of this unique Canadian resource by visiting: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blue-fish-radio-show/id1090189487?uo=4

Should you have a podcast suggestion or resource you would like to share, please send us a message to: Admin@BlueFishCanada.Ca

Blue Fish Canada is a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity. Please consider making a small monthly donation to off-set the costs of this Newsletter and our other Blue Fish Canada programs by visiting: https://bluefishcanada.ca/donations/

The Blue Fish Canada News for May 3, 2020 features how new tracking and reporting technologies are increasingly being used by anglers to become better at fishing, and at the same time, to contribute data to those responsible for conducting the science and formulating the regulations intended to ensure the sustainability of our fisheries. With fewer actual people being employed to monitor fishing activity directly, a trend that’s likely to continue, electronic monitoring may become the path forward as we continue to explore ways to ensure the future of fish and fishing.

Your Blue Fish News this week includes:

• A collection of Blue Fish Radio interviews and a comprehensive report that pulls together the latest e-tools and how they are being used to ensure our fisheries and ecosystems are managed using science;
• Links to the latest water quality, fish health and fishing news from across Canada; and,
• Links to a wide choice of Angler Apps curated to satisfy most anglers.

• 

Editor Lawrence Gunther with his guide dog Moby aboard the world’s first Blind Fishing Boat capable of being operated by anglers without sight

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Citizen Science and Angler Apps

Many anglers strive to keep better track of where and when they go fishing, the conditions at the time, and what worked or didn’t. They do this in order to turn experience into knowledge for their own benefit and, if possible, to contribute to research intended to improve the management of their fisheries through science-based decision making. Numerous angler apps are appearing in the market that claim to do it all, but just as with fishing, expectations and reality don’t always align.

Link to hear Dr. Venturelli discuss with Lawrence Gunther the strengths, weaknesses and future of angler apps on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”.

Link to hear Sean Simmons discuss with Lawrence Gunther how his MyCatch app is being used by anglers to support fisheries research on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”.

Link to hear renowned fish biologist Gord Pyzer discuss with Lawrence Gunther why managing fishery resources needs to move beyond anglers practicing pulse fishing on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”.

Finally, link here to read a more detailed Blue Fish Canada report that captures the strengths and weaknesses of how angler apps are currently being developed, sold and applied by anglers and researchers alike, and why government regulators have been slow to get aboard:

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Latest Blue Fish News on Water, Fish and Fishing

Boating:

Eight Ways to Stay Safe at Home and Still Focus on Boating
Eight U.S. links but still great tips and resources on things to do and learn while contemplating that moment when you will launch your boat for the first time in 2020.

Industry:

Shimano Offers Scholarships for High School and College Bass Anglers
Now in its fourth year, Shimano continues a key initiative to its ‘Varsity Program’ with a scholarship program with 10 scholarships for students pursuing careers in fisheries, conservation, and natural resources management. Deadline is June 15 2020.

IGFA Offers Free Memberships During COVID-19 Pandemic
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recently announced that it will be offering digital memberships at no cost for a limited time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism:

Minnesota’s New Guidelines for Outdoor Recreation
The U.S. Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota’s Department of Health collaborated to create this comprehensive list of outdoor recreation guidelines for use by entities providing outdoor access amenities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fish Health:

Your spring cleaning could kill fish. Here’s why – Tri-City News
If you’re thinking of power washing that deck or refilling the pool, be careful. What you dump down your storm drain or wash off your driveway could be introducing toxins into rivers and lakes, killing aquatic life.

Striped Bass Face Pollution and Overfishing – Coastal Review Online
A concise update and history of Mid-Atlantic striper populations, while not specific to Canada, offers some excellent insights and lessons relevant to the Striped Bass population along our own Atlantic coast.

Pacific Ocean ‘blobs’ will escalate loss of fish stocks – CBC News
New research released in the journal Scientific Reports concludes that by 2050 marine heat waves may double the impact of climate change on species that are highly valued for fisheries.

Water Quality:

How coronavirus could make a bad wildfire season even worse – The Narwhal
Should Canada experience another hot dry year prompting large, hot and rapidly moving forest fires, our response may not be up to what we have come to expect. The impacts on watersheds could be significant.

Seafood:

With fresh seafood as elusive as toilet paper, community-supported fisheries could be the answer – The Telegram
Rather than passing seafood through the hands of brokers, distributors and wholesale suppliers, Community Supported Fisheries (CSF’s) represent the entire supply chain. They catch the fish, clean it, pack it and sell it directly to the consumer.

Art:

The Art of Turning Fish into Leather – Hakai Magazine
Back when fish skin leather was once common in fishing communities; now artisans and designers are breathing new life into the tradition.

Public Access:

B.C. coastal communities brace for tourists as province opens hunting and fishing seasons – The Narwhal
As B.C. reopens the outdoors by adding fishing and hunting to the list of essential services, B.C’s remote communities are fighting back against a tide of city-weary tourists who threaten to spread coronavirus as they travel for recreation.

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Angler Apps

The following is a short list of apps developed for anglers — including right here in Canada. The list is in no particular order, and the apps have not been rated, but each offers a unique set of attributes that should appeal to most all anglers.

MyCatch / Angler Atlas
This Canadian app generates detailed logs of your fishing trips, and shares your citizen science data confidentially with biologists.

Scoutlook Fishing
Drawing on the Scoutlook Weather service, the app offers precise weather conditions for your GPS locations. As well, you can store your favourite fishing spots, log your catches, and scan map overlays such as radar, terrain, and basic water charts.

FishBrain
Post and share pictures of fish captures while following specific species of fish and pics posted by thousands of other anglers. Enjoy access to maps, and mark and share your locations with friends..

GoFree Hooked
Store pics of your fish captures in your personal fishing log, or create tournaments and keep track of weather, wind, GPS location, time of day, as you keep track of the captures of fellow competitors in real time.

Fish Cacher
A digital fishing log that tracks weather, wind speed and direction, water temp, GPS location, fish species, size, lure type, depth fished, and a trip planner.

Orvis Fly Fishing
The app includes step-by-step knot tying instructions and animations, plus how-to articles, videos, and fishing reports for most states and provinces. It also includes a complete repository of flies, including when, how, and where to use them.

Pro-Knot
Offers useful fishing knots as well as rope knots for boating, including step-by-step instructions, illustrations and how-to videos.

Useful Fishing Knots
A free app with illustrations and explanations for each fishing knot.

Navionics US & Canada
A powerful boating and fishing app featuring navigation charts, U.S. government charts, sonar charts, wind forecasts, markers, trip tracking, and has an option to add to and access community edits and chart updates.

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About us

Lawrence Gunther is North America’s only blind professional angler, conservationist, writer, blogger, podcaster, film maker and TV personality. Gunther founded the charity Blue Fish Canada in 2012 and launched the podcast Blue Fish Radio in 2013.

Please take a moment to rate The Blue fish Radio Show on Apple Podcast so others might learn of this unique Canadian resource.

Blue Fish Canada is a federally incorporated registered Canadian charity. Please consider making a small monthly donation to off-set the costs of this Newsletter and our other Blue Fish Canada programs.

Should you have a podcast suggestion or resource you would like to share, please send us a message to: Admin@bluefishcanada.ca

Blue Fish News is brought to you by Blue Fish Canada, and includes timely news items of relevance to water quality, fish health and the future of recreational fishing. Tracking Covid-19 closures to public access fishing locations or changes to seasonal fishing openings are being managed at local and provincial levels, so our coverage on this topic focusses mainly on policy implications raised by Canadian stakeholders and what’s taking place south of the border. Also included is a series of Blue Fish Radio podcasts that concern Atlantic Salmon, Smallmouth and Stripe Bass on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick that, collectively, tell and interesting story about the river’s ecosystem and it’s important connection to the socio-economic stability of the region.

Blue fish Canada’s President Lawrence Gunther on:
What it means to be an Angler

Canada is similar to many other countries in that we are currently divided between those who carry out essential services, and those who  depend on these brave soles in order to isolate safely in place, or if that fales, to receive vital medical services. Regardless to which of these two groups you belong, many millions of us look forward to the day that we can once again cast off from shore and de-tatch from the world we have shaped to meet our needs, but which now seems to have become a source of so much distress. In good times and bad, angling is the way we revive our spirits. To survail the edges where water meets land, and to invisage the hidden underwater worlds that, in our minds,  hold so much promise. To return at the end-of-the-day to our families with or without a fish, either intentionally or in spite of our best efforts. To once again be reminded that we have never been and never will be masters of our environments, but a meer holder of a small amout of space in a much larger and infinitely more powerful network of forces that somehow manage to maintain a sufficient balance  that allows all manner of life to thrive. While the vast majority of us have stopped being fishers many generations back, we now angle as a sport to honour this ancient practice of human survival. Angling is now an activity that connects us with nature no matter what form our angling takes and regardless of our mastery of the art. Like you, I dream of the day that I can once again feel the wind and sun on my face, the motion of my boat beneath my feet, the ssmell of the life that lives in water, and the thrill of finding and grappling with fish at the end of my line.

Fish Health
Fishing Has Stopped. Will Fish Recover? – Smithsonian Magazine
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many boats unable to leave harbor, creating a window for fish populations to rebound.

What if there’s no salmon fishery? How covid-19 could affect salmon populations – National Fisherman
The covid-19 public health crisis spreading across the globe is causing economic turmoil in most industries, including fisheries.

Angler Action:
The COVID-19 closure question – Outdoor Canada
While provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I have delayed the opening of the recreational fishing season, Ontario still plans on the April 25 trout opener going ahead. The editor of Outdoor Canada Magazine Patrick Watson shares his thoughts on what all this could mean and presents a path forward.

Is Fishing Okay During The Pandemic? Fish’n Canada
“The world is a crazy place right now. With the Covid19 virus running rampant across the entire planet, everyone is essentially in panic mode; and for good reason.” And now Angelo Viola, co-host of TV’s Fish’n Canada, says the Ontario fishing season should be delayed and has launched a petition

Covid-19 and Fishing as an Essential Service – Keep Canada Fishing
“I believe we need to support the war against COVID-19 and abide by our governments’ and health officials’ instructions to “Stay Home” in order to flatten the curve.”

B.C. ministry announces new fishing and hunting protocol – Trail Daily Times
“If you cannot fish and hunt safely, do not go fishing or hunting. If you cannot meet all the Covid19 orders, guidance, and remain at least 2 meters (6 feet) apart, please defer your plans to fish or hunt.”

We have to make huge changes in our fishing plans starting now – Campbell River Mirror
“With the coronavirus situation and dealing with self isolation, the idea of planning for the next family fishing trip is on hold.”

Why time outdoors is crucial to your health, even during the coronavirus pandemic – University of Chicago News
“Coronavirus outbreak show why urban cities need to invest in green spaces”, University of Chicago psychologist Marc Berman says.

Canadian Fishing Network:
Scottie Martin continues to keep thousands of isolating and essential anglers entertained and engaged with his daily challenges and Facebook Live sessions each Monday night beginning at 7: EST featuring numerous angling specialists across Canada including Blue Fish Canada’s own Lawrence Gunther.

United States:
Don’t Blow This for the Rest of Us: How We Keep Hunting and Fishing in New York State During the Pandemic – MeatEater Conservation
Raritan Bay is a 70,000-acre water body that’s flanked by North Jersey and Staten Island. The Manhattan skyline at the mouth of the Hudson River paints the bay’s northern backdrop. Every spring, Raritan gives releaf to cabin fever, but what about now?

Mixed Signals on Fishing Possibilities in COVID-19 Crisis
Is fishing still possible under the “stay at home” and “shelter in place” orders issued by local and state governments all across the United States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?

First Nations:
Adapting to coronavirus: how B.C. First Nations balance food security and conservation – The Narwhal
“Indigenous communities, among Canada’s most food-insecure, navigate unique challenges when it comes to traditional harvesting practices during the COVID-19 lockdown — especially in areas affected by climate change, industrial development and declining wildlife populations.”

Water Quality:
Covid-19 and recreational water quality – Swim Guide
“As of March 2020, there is not enough research to say for certain whether or not the virus that causes Covid-19 can be transmitted through water, through contact with feces that contain the virus, or through sewage.”

Canadian Freshwater Alliance
Every Wednesday evening at 7: EST the Canadian Freshwater Alliance hosts a freshwater trivia challenge open to anyone – gather the whole family. Also, follow their work on tracking untreated sewage releases and what it means for the health of Canada’s fish and ecosystems.

Industry:
Canadian Tire helps medics and communities fight COVID-19
Canada’s biggest supplier of fishing tackle has launched a C$5m funding initiative to help fellow countrymen and communities respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The C$5 Million Canadian Tire COVID-19 Response Fund is comprised of two donations of C$1m each to the country’s Red Cross and United Way Centraide, an organisation that supports the vulnerable, and a $3m donation of products to support frontline medical workers.

Fuji Announces New Sustainability Initiative
Fuji Industrial Co., Ltd., known globally as Fuji Rod Components, has announced its support of a worldwide ecological initiative called The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan, adopted by a United Nations Summit in 2015, targets 17 environmental goals and outlines 169 specific efforts to reach those goals.

Government:
The Ontario Government suspends environmental oversight rules, saying they could hinder its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The alberta Government has suspended environmental reporting requirements for industry, during the COVID-19 pandemic saying that forcing companies to fully comply would cause hardship.”

Blue Fish Radio on the Miramichi River Watershed:
Atlantic Salmon are in trouble along the New Brunswick coastline. Listen to how the Miramichi Atlantic Salmon Federation wants to reduce the number of native Striped Bass, as well as cull the newly invasive Smallmouth Bass both Striped and Smallmouth Bass are being accused of feeding on Salmon smolz.

And then listen to why anglers are behind one of Canada’s largest fishing tournaments the Striper Cup, and why they are concerned over the Salmon Federation’s proposal to reduce Striped Bass to levels that would put them dangerously close to be considered at risk.

Important:
Blue Fish Canada is a registered Canadian charity and depends on your volunteer support and donations to deliver programs directly on the water and through various electronic media – please donate if you can.

Blue Fish News Includes:
Links to a recent Blue Fish Radio podcast on West coast salmon fishing and background Covid-19 documentation, an on-line Blue Fish Steward quiz that’s guaranteed to test your knowledge of emerging sustainable recreational fishing developments, and a Blue Fish Radio episode that explores why Pacific salmon are entering the Arctic Ocean in record numbers.

Covid-19 Responses:
Instead of offering up-dates on Covid-19 fisheries related closures and advisories, we will instead bring you first-hand perspectives of what’s being tried across Canada. With so many diverse regions and fisheries no one boot fits all, which is why solutions can range widely. Please keep in mind two things, one, this is all new territory for everyone involved so there’s no guarantees that the strategies being proposed will work, and two, what’s being tried  today as the pandemic continues to spread will likely differ once we get through the worst of it and begin the next phase of containing flair-ups. The goal in all this will be to draw on science to formulate strategies for safely participating in recreational fisheries, and to share best practices to mitigate the health impacts on as many anglers and their communities as quickly as possible.

Blue Fish Radio on West Coast Salmon Fishing and Covid-19:
As Canadians everywhere take shelter and avoid as much as possible contact with others, there are regions in Canada where recreational fishing continues in ways that have been determined to be both beneficial and relatively safe. It’s what many of us dream of but aren’t now doing because of the advice of experts familiar with our own unique: regional fisheries, demographics, fishing infrastructure, medical capacity, styles of fishing, etc. At the same time, as we do all we can to: stay safe, prevent the spread of the virus, look after our families and communities, and find ways to continue to contribute meaningfully to society, we can’t help but wonder when and how life will return to some sort of new normal. Until there’s a vaccine or sufficient herd immunity, how we went about fishing last year likely isn’t going to work. We will need to re-learn how to go about fishing, not the actual fishing techniques, but all the related pre and post fishing trip activities.

Link here for a perspective shared by a B.C. recreational salmon and steelhead angler recorded for Blue Fish Radio April 9th.
Link here for a list of recreational fishing Covid-19 precautions issued by the B.C. government.

Blue Fish Steward Quiz:
Tests are fun right, well, not really, but knowing this Blue Fish advisors have been careful in their development of our Blue Fish Steward quizzes. We began focus testing the quizzes at outdoor shows for their likability in February 2020.

Link here to a Blue Fish Steward quiz that focusses on emerging sustainable recreational fishing techniques and equipment – good luck!

Blue Fish Radio on Pacific Salmon in the Arctic:
Salmon traditionally found in the Pacific ocean, such as Sockeye, Pink and Chum, (less-so Coho and Chinook), are now entering the Arctic Ocean in greater numbers than ever before. It’s got to the point that Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans is now working with Arctic coastal communities to collect both research samples, and locally inspired recipes to be featured in a cookbook being distributed to Arctic residents.

Link here to listen to DFO researcher Dr. Karen Dunmall in conversation with Lawrence Gunther about their findings and hypotheses on why salmon are heading north on this episode of Blue Fish Radio.
Link here for more about the Arctic Salmon research project and the cookbook.

Coming Up:
More Blue Fish Radio interviews with regional fishing experts on what’s happening in their region of Canada, more science-based best practices on what anglers in these different regions are doing to avoid Covid-19, A Blue Fish Radio podcast that while interesting, has nothing to do with the pandemic, and another quiz to test and strengthen your Blue Fish Steward knowledge.

Important:
Blue Fish Canada is a registered Canadian charity and depends on your volunteer support and donations to deliver programs directly on the water and through various electronic media – please donate if you can.

Stay safe, stay well.

Blue Fish Canada is tracking Covid-19 impacts on recreational anglers, indigenous fishers, water quality and fish health, as well as those in the business of recreational fishing. The information we gather will assist in identifying immediate and longer term supports necessary to secure and enhance the resilience and recovery of Canada’s non-commercial fisheries. We invite stakeholders interested in sharing information on the effects of COVID-19 to submit information to Blue Fish Canada at: BlueFishCan@gmail.com. Here’s what we know now:

Closures: To reduce the risk of the virus being spread among anglers at popular shoreline fishing areas and boat launches, provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec have postponed the April opening of trout fishing season. Ontario has implemented a variety of closures and restrictions to their parks and conservation areas that include many municipalities closing boat launches. Similarly, Parks Canada has temporarily suspended all public motor vehicle access to all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas. Gatineau Park located in West Quebec has also been closed, as have the St. Lawrence Thousand Island parks.

International: Similar closures are occurring in the U.S. prompting the American Sportfishing Association to write to 50 US governors asking them to keep fishing opportunities and businesses open where possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. They acknowledge that in no way do they want to stand in the way of the efforts of states to limit the spread of COVID-19, and they recognise that in certain cases fishing access restrictions are warranted. They go on to say that given that recreational fishing provides health and benefits associated with being outdoors, and a source of food for many individuals, “recreational fishing should be promoted as a safe outdoors activity compatible with physical distancing guidelines”.

Foraging: Some northern Canadian community leaders are encouraging families to go out on to the land and practice self-sufficiency as a means of avoiding the virus and minimising the chance of its spread. Many of Canada’s rural, remote and northern communities have very limited or no access to doctors and the sorts of medical resources required to respond to outbreaks of COVID-19.

Tournaments: Organized fishing tournaments and other competitive fishing events are choosing to reconsider the timing of their event dates, or to cancel events altogether. Given the carefully orchestrated process event organizers undertake to select the timing and locations of events to maximize participation and minimize overlap, and uncertainty over the time it will take to flatten the transmission curve of the virus, few are promising their competitors a compressed schedule that includes all events.

Outdoor Shows: Most all outdoor and fishing shows were cancelled from mid-March forward, and closures to fishing related businesses have underscored the need to build and maintain strong on-line presence. Larger operations can afford costs associated with on-line commerce, which may mean sustaining smaller businesses may prove difficult.

Industry: Fishing industries and those businesses that depend on recreational angling and indigenous fishing are already being impacted by closures and self-isolating strategies. These businesses are often considered seasonal in Canada, which makes the timing of the pandemic especially problematic since most businesses had already placed and paid for their product orders for the year.

Tourism: Much of Canada’s fishing tourism / adventure related operations account for a large portion of the economic contribution to rural, remote and northern regions across Canada. These businesses are also often characterized as small businesses (20% have fewer than 20 employees and 80% are non-employer businesses). Their operations are also being impacted by border closures. These businesses will require focused government support to ensure they recover from these closures to ensure the socio-economic survival of Canada’s non-urban communities. 

Self-Isolating: The commonly expressed view of anglers residing in more developed parts of Canada is to avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily to reduce incidents that may place additional strain on emergency responders and healthcare systems, and to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 itself. Many are counselling others to adhere to the advice of governments and scientists across Canada to leave home only for the purpose of carrying out essential activities, and to comply with the many prohibitions now in place. 

Fishing Pressure: With an estimated 9-million recreational anglers across Canada, numerous indigenous communities with strong ties to fishing, and people who may ultimately take-up fishing for economic reasons or to address food insecurity, tracking the fishing efforts of recreational anglers, indigenous fishers and illegal harvesters may pose additional challenges. Monitoring fishing pressure on fish stocks across Canada is usually the role of government led creel surveys, which may now be suspended over health concerns for the summer students normally hired to conduct such surveys.

Research: Independent fisheries research conducted by universities and other conservation groups may also be suspended due to health concerns for their field researchers and a lack of fishing data normally provided by anglers and tournament organizers supporting such research through citizen science.

Enforcement: Postponing the opening of fishing seasons and placing off limits public access fishing areas and boat launches will reduce fishing pressure to levels far below the norm, which may generate strong 2020 fish class populations. However, tracking the numbers and impacts of those who choose to ignore closures could significantly impact current fish stocks, the totality of which could be quantified as long as sufficient government enforcement officers remain on the job.

Water Quality: The Great Lakes may be impacted following the United States of America suspending the enforcement of their Environmental Protection Agency monitoring and reporting obligations of American. companies. The EPA cites challenges resulting from efforts to protect workers and the public from COVID-19 may directly impact the ability of regulated facilities to meet all federal regulatory requirements. Water quality watch-dog organizations are concerned that companies may view the suspension as an opportunity to circumvent environmental safeguards without having to report why or to monitor for impacts.

Socio-Economic Impacts: Given that the economic contribution of most fishing related businesses and the involvement of those who fish have never been properly quantified across Canada, how they might be affected if fish stocks are impacted will be difficult to assess. Using artificial intelligence such as angler apps and the analysis of reports posted to social media sites may assist in monitoring fishing pressure levels and related socio-economic trends as the pandemic unfolds.

Timing: We all know about the need to reduce the peak demand that will soon be facing our health services. We are also being told that the world’s ability to defeat COVID-19 in the near term is unlikely as the development and distribution of an effective vaccination is still many months away. Once we get through the challenge of reducing the initial spread of COVID-19, experts speculate that we could be battling the virus for months afterwards through the identification and remediation of outbreaks as they emerge.

Conclusion: The new norm for the next while will entail all of us exercising due diligence as we move through peak outbreaks of the virus. Once we have surpassed the initial crisis, there will be time to figure out and apply science-based precautionary approaches to supporting our families, safeguarding our communities, and for pursuing our outdoor lifestyles. What fishing might entail in the medium term, once we are through the worst of the outbreak and before we can return to normal, will require all stakeholders working together. Blue Fish Canada will continue to stay engaged to ensure the voices of anglers, fishing communities, fish researchers, the fishing industry, and conservation groups are shared and heard. Until then, Blue Fish Canada will continue to work hard to gather and sort the information we need to ensure the future of fish and fishing. On the bright side, some speculate that postponements and closures to early season fishing will result in the 2020 year class of fish populations being some of the strongest Canada has experienced in years.

Keep Up-to-date: Watch out for more Blue Fish News in your inbox, on Twitter, on Facebook, and on our weekly podcast Blue Fish Radio.

Donations: Blue fish Canada depends on volunteers across Canada and on your donations to coordinate and implement programs. Please consider making a charitable donation to support our continuing to ensure the future of fish and fishing across Canada:
Link here to donate: https://bluefishcanada.ca/donations/

To whom it may concern,

We are writing to provide feedback on the changes MNRF is proposing for the bass season in FMZ 20 – primarily Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence River.

Blue Fish Canada is a registered Canadian charity and federally incorporated non-profit entity. Our mandate includes water quality, fish health and the future of recreational fishing. Blue Fish Canada promotes both catch&release best practices, and the sustainable harvest of fish based on scientific research.

In preparation of this letter Blue fish Canada reached out to the angling community in several ways. Our consultations included producing and broadcasting a 28-minute podcast featuring Blue Fish Canada’s president in conversation with Dr. Bruce Tufts from Queen’s University.

The podcast was shared with over 100,000 Canadians by numerous podcast broadcasters, cable and satellite TV, home smart speakers, and the podcast website: www.BlueFishRadio.com.

We also presented the proposals and Dr. Tufts research to the over 10,000 members of the Canadian Fishing Network.

Blue Fish Canada supports keeping opening season for Largemouth as the 3rd Saturday in June, and moving the opening day of Smallmouth to the first Saturday in July. We agree with keeping harvesting regulations the same for this summer / fall fishery.

Blue Fish Canada also supports a pre-spawn fishing season for both Largemouth and Smallmouth bass to begin in January and to end in early May. Further, we recommend that harvesting during the pre-spawn season be limited to either catch&release only, or the harvest of two fish based on a slot size to be scientifically determined. Both of these options for the spring pre-spawn fishery would help ensure large breeding fish remain close to their chosen nest sites leading up to and during the spawning season.

Thank you for your on-going commitment to further fine-tune the recreational bass fishery in FMZ 20 using the best available scientific research.

Lawrence Gunther Euteneier M.E.S. M.S.M.
President / Blue Fish Canada
Email: Director@BlueFishCanada.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueFishCanada/
Twitter : @BlueFishnews
Web : BlueFishCanada.Ca

By Lawrence Gunther
President, Blue Fish Canada

Introduction: Many anglers strive to keep better track of where and when they go fishing, the conditions at the time, and what worked or didn’t. They do this in order to turn experience into knowledge for their own benefit and, if possible, to further research and enhance resource management of fisheries. Numerous angler apps keep appearing in the market that claim to do it all. But just as with fishing, expectations and reality don’t always align.

What Apps Do: Angler apps provide a convenient means for tracking real-time data about our fishing activity. Using smartphones and tablets, anglers are able to record, store, retrieve, and even transmit a wide variety of data. According to an authority on the research application of angler apps, Dr. Paul Venturelli Director of Environmental Sciences at Ball State University Indiana says that some angler apps now automatically record data such as date and time, weather, location, moon phase, and the GPS coordinates of the route travelled throughout the day. Additional data can be manually entered, such as fish species, number caught, size and condition, location of each capture, water temperature, depth and method of angling, a photo, and if the fish was harvested or released. According to Dr. Venturelli, data collected can make anglers more knowledgeable and effective, provide support to research initiatives, and might someday be used by regulators to manage fishing pressure and fish stocks.

What Apps don’t do: Anglers have made it abundantly clear that they won’t enter data that could give away location information that is specific to hard-earned prized fishing hotspots. They are reluctant to share this important information with other anglers. Researchers interested in studying a specific species of fish are often disappointed with the low number of anglers who submit relevant data for a specific water body or fish species. Regulators remain unconvinced that the data that is collected or reported by these apps accurately reflect the true experience of each angler. No doubt, there is still lots of room for app improvement, especially as more angler apps are released every year.

Privacy: All people who fish want to become better anglers. It’s why we are keenly interested in the success of others. And yet, we can’t help but brag about our own fishing successes even though we know our fellow anglers are more interested in deciphering where and how we caught the fish than they are in the specific fish we caught. For this reason, developers of angler apps are continuously searching for that perfect balance between sharing and privacy. And central to reaching this balance is ensuring anglers continue to have say over what information is shared and with whom.

Integration: Industry is capitalizing on the growing trend of anglers using apps to track their personal fishing efforts. Technologies are being integrated to offer anglers a seamless electronic data collection and display experience. For example, the Anglr app, Lowrance Sonar, and Abu Garcia fishing rod companies now offer anglers the ability to press a button built into the fishing rod itself to convey data to the smartphone app which, in turn, communicates with the sonar unit. The end-result is a wide range of data being collected, recorded and displayed through a variety of devices.

Resource Management: Governments are also beginning to pay attention to the growing popularity of angler apps. A recent report issued by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states:  “When electronic reporting is part of a probability-based sampling survey design, it has the potential to reduce data collection costs and improve the quality of reported information.” What NOAA is hoping is that at some point, sufficient data will be logged for use in expanding the findings of more traditional, and costly, creel surveys. The NOAA report goes on to say that for these apps to produce fish population level estimates based on electronically reported angler catch-data, a large number of anglers would have to use the apps consistently, and to report accurate information about their fishing trips.

The NOAA recommends that a “statistically valid probability-based sampling survey” would need to validate any self-reported data by eliminating any “outlier” data points that have little in common with the majority of reports. In addition, any survey would have to monitor reporting frequency and track the frequency of trips that are not being reported.

Qualitative or Quantitative: The NOAA report raises important questions about the validity of data that is collected by angler apps. It suggests this raw form of data is suitable only as a qualitative means of supporting citizen science research and is not reliable as quantitative data, essential for assessing and adjusting fishing rules and regulations. In a nutshell, there is an abundance of data being collected through angler apps, but there are surprisingly few instances where government researchers and policy makers use the information.

Bias: The NOAA study points out that when recreational catch estimates are produced using data collected through an opt-in website or mobile app, “the estimates are likely to be biased.” This means that anglers can’t always be counted on to accurately report the results of their day’s fishing. People may not think it’s relevant that they made, let’s say, 9,999 casts without catching a Muskie, or that the Muskie they did catch but didn’t bother reporting wasn’t anything close to their personal best. But knowing how much effort it took to achieve success is just as important as tracking the number of juvenile Muskies in a system, or the number of days fished without a single successful capture. None of this may be regarded by anglers as valuable data.

Creel Surveys: Governments conduct creel surveys to inform the creation of policies, regulations, and efforts to rebuild fish stocks. The data are collected by surveying anglers at boat launches and shore fishing locations. The data contain information on catch rates, species caught, numbers of fish harvested or returned, and the general area being fished over a set time period. The problem with creel surveys, according to Sean Simmons, CEO of Anglers Atlas and inventor of the MyCatch App, is that they can cost upwards of $25,000 to survey a single body of water. This makes them ineffective at monitoring overall fishing pressure and fish stock health.

Citizen Science: Fish researchers are highly dependent on anglers as citizen scientists to locate, capture, and report tagged fish. While anglers may be notoriously secretive about their fishing hot spots, researchers are achieving success in convincing them that reporting catch data is in the best interest of the sport and resource overall.

Research: Researchers are also turning to anglers to assist with targeted research initiatives that involve electronic reporting technology. These are time-limited research initiatives that often focus on fish species of mutual concern. Without the support of anglers, the research would not be possible at even four times the cost. Without this research, anglers would have no idea about whether their beloved sport fish species are imperilled or recovering. Unfortunately, maintaining the interest of anglers in longer-term research initiatives is proving difficult since apps may be good at collecting data, they are surprisingly weak at facilitating the two-way communication that is essential for maintaining longer term angler engagement.

Tournaments: Electronic reporting of fish captures during fishing tournaments is already well underway. Many tournament organizers post tournament results in real time as the competition unfolds. Typically, this identifies the number of anglers, total hours fished, location and weather, and the number and size of fish caught. The recently launched Major League Fishing tournament series has taken catch reporting to the next level by requiring anglers to report the total number and size of all fish caught, instead of the competitors transporting their fish to the event weigh-in station. On-line fishing communities are also taking the next step and encouraging their members to report their individual fishing results, similar to the approach Muskie Canada initiated back in the 1970s with their catch log program.

Catch, Record, Release: Increasingly, fishing clubs are experimenting with electronic reporting apps to provide their members with both collective and real-time results. Many club events now use Facebook to record catches during club outings and competitive events. Individual posts include catch, measure, photograph, and release data. The problem with using Facebook to store such data is the inability of researchers to electronically “scrape” data from Facebook pages, making it necessary to manually transcribe what has been posted.

Bucket List Fishing: Even if governments continue to perceive data generated by catch reports by anglers using apps as unreliable, this doesn’t mean they won’t someday become the norm. Many young anglers are choosing to use apps to track their fishing effort and successes, and to share with others details about their fishing results. In short, a new generation of anglers seems less concerned with privacy and more interested in pursuing one-off bucket list fishing challenges, and then enthusiastically sharing their experiences with others.

Sustainable Management: If fishing rules, regulations, and stocking efforts are to respond efficiently to fishing pressure and other factors that impact fish stocks and fish health, then some sort of system will be required to track and report on angler fishing efforts that are specific to individual bodies of water. The alternative is for anglers to continue to self-regulate based on what retired fish biologist and Outdoor Canada Magazine fishing editor Gord Pyzer calls “pulse fishing.” More on that next.

Pulse Fishing: We all practice pulse fishing to one degree or another. We hear about an up-and-coming hot fishery through the grape vine and then check it out for ourselves. Word spreads, and before you know it the fishery is the new “community fishing hole.” This lasts for as long as the fishing remains relatively good. But as soon as it starts to drop off, we shift our fishing effort to the next reported hotspot, allowing the depleted location to enter a period of re-building. Since it’s seldom the case that all the fish were caught, these fish stocks will slowly rebound until the fishery, once again, is rediscovered. It may not be pretty, but it’s what happens now.

Self-Management: Until governments invest considerably more money in monitoring popular fishing locations, it may just be the case that fishing apps will become the go-to tool for anglers to soften the peaks and valleys experienced by popular fishing locations.  Additionally, spreading out fishing pressure over more spots instead of huge numbers of anglers moving on massefrom one spot to another could mean less time and fuel spent chasing down false leads. And that’s good for the planet. Both anglers and the environment could be better served through the transparent sharing of accurate real-time fishing data.

Managing Angling Pressure: Whether we ever get to the point that individual fishing locations are managed based on real-time fishing pressure is difficult to say. Many of the commercial fisheries are now managed this way, so it may not be that far off before there’s a convergence between science-based fish management and the collection and accurate reporting of individual fishing effort. The challenge is how such mandatory reporting can be enforced. While not yet electronic, similar resource management practices are already being used in Wisconsin by anglers fishing for Lake Sturgeon.

Grass Roots Initiatives: It’s unlikely that government will adopt the approach of using self reporting data to manage fishing pressure any time soon. But we may not be that far away from changes at the lake or cottage association level. Look to them as they consider the adoption of new voluntary strategies for managing their shared resource. After all, it’s better to have informed local anglers, than people continuing to fish with the false expectation that the supply is infinite. Not knowing can lead to cottagers on a lake harvesting a limit of fish every weekend, or   assuming that the number of fish in their lake has dropped to dangerous levels, resulting in calls to unnecessarily curtail or suspend angling altogether. It’s the lack of knowing that fuels ignorance and resentment.

The Future: Builders of angler apps are consulting with stakeholders (including anglers, tournament organizers, researchers, government biologists, etc.) to advance the use of their new apps. We are now witnessing the beginning of a shift in how we manage our fisheries collectively. Angler apps will become the norm, if not an essential component of the management of recreational fisheries and their oversight. It’s no longer a question of if, but when.

Audio Resources:

Link below to hear Dr. Venturelli discuss with the author the strengths, weaknesses and future of angler apps on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”:
http://bluefishradio.com/the-future-of-angler-apps-and-fish-conservation/

Link below to hear Sean Simmons discuss with the author how his MyCatch app is being used by anglers to support fisheries research on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”:
http://bluefishradio.com/nature-meets-shiny-tech-with-mycatch/

Link below to hear Gord Pyzer discuss with the author the pros and cons of pulse fishing on the podcast “Blue Fish Radio”:
http://bluefishradio.com/gord-pyzer-part-2-of-2/

Lawrence Gunther is the Director of the charity Blue Fish Canada and the host of the podcast Blue Fish Radio.