AFGA 2017 AGM and Conference Combined Hunting and Fishing Program. February 24, 2017, Edmonton Alberta

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2 AFGA 2017 AGM and Conference Combined Hunting and Fishing Program February 24, 2017, Edmonton Alberta

3 Your Hosts and Moderators: Ian Stuart AFGA Provincial Hunting Chair Darry Smith AFGA Provincial Fish Chair

4 Apologize right at the start! Needed to combine programs as some issues are common to both hunting and fishing Program development has been difficult as many emerging issues and topics There may be need to adjust program timelines or order to provide speakers sufficient time on critical topics which may impact other speakers Uncertain of guests and speakers in attendance Both of us will be putting on limited presentations owing to time constraints but key issues are identified in our reports Due to time constraints, could you please write down your questions and hand them in to Ian and Darryl. We will be hosting a Q&A session this afternoon

5 Speakers and guests: Travis Ripley, Executive Director, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Cory Enns, Aboriginal Consultation Office, Alberta Indigenous Relations Dave Park, Director Fisheries Management Policy, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Matt Besko, Director, Wildlife Management Policy, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Dr. Margo Pybus, Provincial Wildlife Disease Specialist, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Jason Caldwell, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Paul Frame, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Stuart Nadeau, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch TJ Schwanky, AFGA Habitat Program Tyler Riewe, Delta Waterfowl Scott McGuigan, Delta Waterfowl Ray Mackowecki, Underutilized Fish Stocks Group Who are we missing? Please stand up.

6 Program: subject to change Indigenous Relations, Fish and Wildlife Policy Review and other common issues Wildlife and Fish Disease Update Fisheries Management Policy Session Wildlife Management Policy Session Underutilized Fish Stocks Lunch maybe AFGA Habitat Program Report Delta Waterfowl Hen House and Predator Management Program Hunting Chair Reports: Zone and Provincial Fishing Chair Reports: Zone and Provincial Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch and AFGA Hunting/Fishing Program Chairs: Questions from the floor

7 Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Discussions and Presentation General Overview Fish and Wildlife Programs Fish and Wildlife Policy Review Indigenous Relations Licensing Update Discussion Fishery Management 2017 and beyond Walleye and Northern Pike Management Discussion Wildlife Disease Update Species at Risk Whirling Disease Update Cougars Wildlife Management 2017 and beyond

8 The Angling World is Changing!

9 AFGA Fish Chair Report: Darryl Smith Review conference report but the biggest issue are: Lack of meaningful consultation related to establishing benchmarks, FMOs and angling regulations (autonomy, ideology) Aquatic Invasive Species (whirling disease and zebra mussels) Biodiversity agenda (Future priorities) Fish and Wildlife Policy Review (Future priorities) Priorities within Fish and Wildlife: Allocation vs Habitat vs Enforcement vs Science vs Policy (Structure and Capacity) Use of alternative facts (GoA and the Public)

10 Alternative facts and how we use them to frame an issue Here is a question:

11 What should be the objective for the CUE for walleye by anglers? a..25 walleye per hour b..4 walleye per hour c. 1.0 walleye per hour d. Based on the productivity and natural variability within a fish community e. All of the above f. None of the above.25 American Fisheries Society (multiple publications).4 Montana, Fort Peck Reservoir FMO (actual highest recorded is.27) What is significance of this number? 1.0 Alberta

12 What is the correct answer? *Survey of over 1,000 walleye waters revealed that only 13.7% of walleye fisheries reported a catch rate of 0.4 walleye per hour or greater. Walleye harvest rates below 0.15 walleye per hour made up 78.7% of all surveys. (includes Alberta data) *Fort Peck Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 10/13/2011

13 2017 AFGA Fish Chair Priorities? Rewrite of Sportfishing Regulations from perspective of AFGA Meaningful consultations Involvement with committees related to SARA, Aquatic Invasive Species including Whirling Disease Responsible land use and water planning (balanced approach= habitat focus) Others? Need your input!

14 Questions and Answer Session