A public meeting is being held in Grande Prairie Thursday to discuss proposed changes to provincial fishing regulations. The government is concerned about the future of walleye and pike in Alberta lakes, particularly in the north of the province.
In the Fish Management Zone that encompasses the Grande Prairie region, there are four lakes that are being looked at in the Fox Creek area and Grande Prairie area. A draft report released in October 2017 recommended implementing a catch and release program for northern pike in Iosegun Lake and Sturgeon Lake, due to populations at high or very high risk.
In Crooked Lake, the recommendation is to go from allowing the catch of three pike over 63 centimetres long to one pike of any size. For Raspberry Lake, the province is looking at either allowing one or two pike over 63 centimetres or one over 75 centimetres.
Any approved changes would come into effect as of April 1, 2018. Residents can learn more at the meeting at the Montrose Cultural Centre on January 18th from 6 to 9 p.m. The presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. An online survey is also open until January 30th.