A Load of Bull

Don't mess with the bull, you'll get the horns.

Summertime in Alberta is the time for adventure.  Many anglers will be making their way into the back country to tangle with a pair of Alberta's native fish; the cutthroat trout and the bull trout.  These two stunning fish inhabit some of the most pristine and sensitive fisheries in Alberta today.  While populations of pure strain cutthroat trout are at risk in this province, I want to take some time to focus on the plight of the bull trout in Alberta.

A gorgeous Oldman River bull trout

In 1994 the government of Alberta announced that the bull trout would be named Alberta's provincial fish and that a no-keep limit would be introduced.  Bull trout populations across the province had declined greatly and the species was in great danger unless action was taken.  The figures here show the historic and adult density of bull trout populations in Alberta:

Historic adult bull trout density

Current adult bull trout density

Now for some harrowing information on how effective Alberta has been at restoring bull trout populations.  Historically bull trout could be found in 60 different water sheds in Alberta.  In 2014 it was revealed that only 7 watersheds have been assessed as healthy and 20 populations have been lost entirely.  The bull trout has lost nearly 70% of their historic waters.

It appears that the government action in 1994 served mostly as lip service.  The zero keep limit remains, but little else seems to have changed.  In 2012 the bull trout was officially classified as an "at risk" species.  This classification means that bull trout in Alberta could face extinction unless action is taken.  A report in March of 2012 showed that the zero limit for bull trout had not caused populations to recover and that their habitats were increasingly vulnerable to industrial and recreational activity.

The Bull Trout Conservation Management Plan says very clearly that the introduction of invasive species and habitat alteration have been key contributors to the decline in population. Some of the most sensitive bull trout spawning grounds in the province are facing significant pressure.  Like most species of trout, bull trout require a free stone gravel bottom in which to deposit eggs during the spawning season.  Off highway vehicles illegally crossing river systems, logging projects that kick sediment into the rivers and many other factors have dramatically altered these spawning grounds.  The free stone river bottom has been replaced with a hardened sediment that is not conducive to effective spawning.

Bull trout spawning grounds 

Many of the actions in the previous Bull Trout strategy that ran from 1994-2002 focused on angler education.  Many of us remember hearing the "no black, put it back" slogan to help angles properly identify Bull trout.  The Bull Trout Conservation Management Plan has the following goal: to restore and maintain viable, self-sustaining bull trout populations throughout the majority of the species' historic range in the province, and to once again provide some measure of harvest opportunity for the species.  The Plan references habitat protection and restoration as key objectives to achieve this goal.

Time will tell just how effective this Management Plan was to restore Bull trout populations in this province.  The Alberta government appears to say many of the right things, yet habitat concerns seem to routinely take a back seat to the interests of industry.  In the 20 years since the Albertan government made a concerted effort to save the species, little progress has been made.

Anglers need to be realistic about government's level of attention to these kinds of issues.  No government will be toppled due to mismanagement of a fishery, and you won't find a question about Alberta's bull trout populations in a leaders' debate anytime soon.  Politics is a game of numbers, and the government reaction is simple: appease the masses.

Fish and Wildlife faces tremendous stress on their limit resources.  Regulations do make an impact, but you need enforcement officers to proper police those who choose to ignore the rules.  This past May long weekend it was announced that additional peace officers would be committed to police Alberta's eastern slopes this summer.  These additional resources should help limit litter, ensure ATVers and mudboggers stay away from sensitive bull trout habitat and respond to reports of poachers.

This ATV driver on the Clearwater River was fined $1,500

We have a responsibility to be stewards of our environment.  Unfortunately enforcement will never be able to address every individual who chooses to ignore the rules.  Those of us who frequent this incredible backyard have a commitment to hold each other accountable.  There are countless individuals who treat Alberta's eastern slopes with care and respect, but there are always a few bad apples.  These areas are some of the most sensitive environments in the entire province, and the human footprint has made a irreparable mark in many places.

The next decade will be critical for Alberta's Bull trout.  Much of the government's current focus revolves around getting our economy back on track and further expanding our natural resource industires.  The reality is very simple: the bull trout will not postpone extinction in Alberta until we find a more convenient time to address the issue.

Our stewardship will go a long way to securing the future of our threatened species.  Nature has  issued a challenge to hold each other to a high standard.  Will you accept?