Fisheries Mtg in RMH review

It was essentially Fisheries Mgt 101, catching folks up to speed from the ground floor. A great recap of items, how process works, and a slight touching on the policies that govern directions in action, regulation, etc. A very well run mtg, the facilitators were excellent, the level of information well packaged, and the department staff very open, well prepared, and offered excellent delivery.

It is an interesting time in our fisheries management in Alberta. With all of the arms of gov and lobbies, as well as active programs like Streamwatch, Cows & Fish, etc, and our generally excellent regulations... we're about as far along the path of integrating as much knowledge as possible, especially given the keen awareness we all have of the limitations of budgets and manpower. There are definitely tweaks that can be done and that will evolve (converting a few more lakes to quality fisheries), but at present we're in position where the fisheries side of things is quite well set up. Remarkable when we truly look at what they've had to work with. And anglers have had a lot to do with the result.

The greatest issues out there pertain to land use issues, access, and the general free for all that is ongoing. It took many years for fisheries to react to public pressures and set in motion the plan to evolve to the generally excellent regulations we now have. Mixed in for the past 20 years of angler complaints has been access, yet we bend the ear of fisheries staff at these meetings instead of insisting that a forum be held by SRD to develop a management plan for our public and forested lands for issues such as unrestricted and unregulated atv and helicopter use.

The one thing that I was reminded of again at last night's meeting: People who have blinders on to their own agenda will grind out that agenda, no matter how many years go by and no matter what direction or policy has been established through process. Even with a few "dummy" questions from a couple of people in attendance set up to allow allow fisheries staff to point blank remind those same people that process has occurred, the horse blinders remain. It's great to have a forum where sharing occurs, however, it must drive fisheries / gov workers nuts when the same questions have had the same answers for years, yet the same people want to grind their gears anyway. Good on the department staff for once again delivering the message.

Just a quick post to thank the RMH fisheries & enf staff for an excellent mtg. It was very appreciated.

Cheers

Check out the RMH Fisheries website:
http://srd.alberta.ca/FishingHuntingTrapping/FishManagementZones/ZoneOne/WatershedUnitES2.aspx