This engagement has been archived.
Status: Completed
Ministry responsible: Environment and Parks
Completed: 2017
Overview
In the early 1990s, Lac Bellevue was stocked with walleye. Walleye numbers there remained low for many years and in 2010, the population was assessed as being in a state of high risk, meaning they had a reduced likelihood of long-term sustainability.
In the early years of the last decade, anglers began reporting increasing catches of young walleye. A 2015 fishery survey found high abundance of walleye, mostly of a single age-class.
This information led the Alberta government to re-assess the current management of Lac Bellevue, which due to its small size and ease of access, is highly vulnerable to over-fishing.
The assessment made is that reducing the extremely high abundance of adult walleye is beneficial to promoting recruitment of fish born in the lake. This also provides a harvest opportunity for anglers.
Survey results
In early 2017, using an online survey, Albertans were asked whether they preferred to retain the current regulation – 0 limit, catch and release – intended to fully protect adult walleye, or if they supported the harvest of a targeted amount of walleye with a special harvest licence.
- 66.7% of respondents supported using a special harvest licence to harvest a targeted number of walleye
Action taken
The special harvest licence will be used to permit anglers to harvest up to 2500 walleye in 2017.
The new walleye regulation will be:
- Walleye limit 0, except for holder of a special harvest licence and tags may retain walleye of a size, number, and at the times specified on the licence.
Life cycle
Survey period – February 2 to 13, 2017
Survey results – March 21, 2017