Legal status on keeping native fish in Alberta?

I really want to keep native fish in my own home, but apprently it is illegal to posses live fish unless it is within the vacinity of the water they came from. If the said fish leave the vacinity of the water, they must be killed. The only exception I can see is that there is a licence for cultured fish, only for the purpose of culturing them.

It doesn't help that the type of fish I want to keep are considered bait fish, and since the government want to protect the game fish; all bait fish must be killed once they leave the water or if they are used for the purpose of baiting. Not to mention I want to keep a couple of crayfish as well, but possession of them is not legal.

So far, it seemed like the only legal aquatic native animals I am allowed to keep are non-game and non-bait fish, frogs, salmanders and clams.

Is there a workaround that I can use? I will see if I can get ahold of the Fish and Wildlife office.

Documents:

http://www.qp.gov.ab...ts/acts/F16.CFM
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-14/
http://laws.justice....SOR-98-246///en

Regulations:

http://www.albertaou...html#genregs_13

Looks like it's just with the permit:

http://albertaaquati...t...=10998&st=0

It's the same ol' schtuff. If I were going to go to the trouble, I'd get a permit to bring fish back from the US and get some stuff that's really interesting. You're only what? 28 hours from Tennessee?

Todd

Looks like it's just with the permit:

http://albertaaquati...t...=10998&st=0

It's the same ol' schtuff. If I were going to go to the trouble, I'd get a permit to bring fish back from the US and get some stuff that's really interesting. You're only what? 28 hours from Tennessee?

Todd

Hmmm 28 hours. I don't know. My son goes to one of our churches private schools in Alberta near LaCombe and it is 2422 miles to his school. I think it may take more than 28 hours. I am going to Alberta in a month or two for his graduation. Then back to Kelowna BC for his wedding. Want me to throw some fish in my suitcase for you. I kept pumpkinseed when I lived in Ontario. I knew nothing of any such law. I only kept one in a twenty long. Had fun with him. But I have a hard enough time keeping up with what is legal to do down here much less in Alberta. I live in Ooltewah Tennessee now. Near Chattanooga. Look at the whats your favorite darter thread and see the photos I posted of a speckled darter the other day and drool.

Ah, that is a pity. Apperently, the permit is hard to get. That is unfortunate. Thanks for finding out.

I know to go from Grande Praire to Lethbridge, it take about 12 to 14 hours. LaCombe should be in between Edmonton and Red Deer, I think. Tennesse is quite a distance!

Anyway, thanks for the direction you given me. It is a lot of paperworks. No wonder why those guys said it was hard to get; you practically have to be a researcher to obtain one.

Stupid, understandable, but still stupid. You might as well ban all imported fish based on the government's stance on the issue.

I got directed here: http://www.srd.gov.a...respermapp.html

Ah, that is a pity. Apperently, the permit is hard to get. That is unfortunate. Thanks for finding out.

I know to go from Grande Praire to Lethbridge, it take about 12 to 14 hours. LaCombe should be in between Edmonton and Red Deer, I think. Tennesse is quite a distance!

Anyway, thanks for the direction you given me. It is a lot of paperworks. No wonder why those guys said it was hard to get; you practically have to be a researcher to obtain one.

Stupid, understandable, but still stupid. You might as well ban all imported fish based on the government's stance on the issue.

I got directed here: http://www.srd.gov.a...respermapp.html

I guess their main concern is what the concern is here in Florida especially. Warm water fish could survive in Florida and they do. The now have 22 exoctics in Florida that will never be extirpratated. The actually have well over thirty but the ones that are there are so long lived they are not sure they are established yet. But ya 22 exotics. So if you want to catch some tropical fish just go to southern Florida LOL. I have seen Tilipia and Oscar in person in the Everglades where I ventur every spring. I have also seen double crested cormorants enjoying meals of walking catfish. Evidently they are much easier to swallow LOL than our natives with the walking catfish being slim and all. I have seen other fish of the small nature in the everglades wishing I had a dipnet and bucket. I will check on the legality of dipping in the everglades. I am sure they would not mind me removing as many exotics as I want. These fish had a row of Ocolie under the dorsal. they were around three to four inches long. Could have been young of some larger species but I have never been able to identify them. All I know is that they are not indigenous to the states. I wil have to check with them when I go. I could bring a short handled dip net and a small container for transport. We take two days to get back. We like stopping a Myakka state park on the way back. Beautiful nature trails their. And they have these two towers on one of the trails that is joined by a suspended walking bridge. It is around 70 feet high so you can see over the canopy of trees. Our main reason ( my Wife and I ) go is for bird watching. I do photography as well so I carry binos and tripod and camera. I guess I look real touristy. But you should see the people and their gear. If I added up all the gear I see on one trail and sold it I could easily retire. Awesome gear. I have pro digital gear but no where near the lenses I see there. Let me know how the fish thing goes for you. And if I can help in any way let me know. PM me if you have to.

Again on the fish issue for Alberta. My wife is from Oshawa Ontario. My son will more than likley settle sooner or later near Kelowna BC. Have you ever heard of Big Al's online. bigalsonline.com I think will get you there. I believe they have chains in Canada. Awesome is to small a word to describe their store in Whitby Ontario which is only a fifteen minuet drive from my wifes home where she grew up. I go there and drool every time I visit up there. I usually bring supplies back. With the dollar exchange and the prices seem lower to start out with it is worth my while. I bought food and a sponge filter a couple of weeks ago when I was up there. But back to the fish subject. Big Al's parent headquarters is in Florida somewhere. You may want to check with them. Would be a bummer to have to buy native species but they may be inclined to help you.

The reason why Alberta enforced such heavy law is that we have a big problem with bucket biologists who breed native fish and stock lakes. Not to mention whirling disease spread quite rapidly among the fish population. Man, I remembered 6 years back officers would allow you take live fish back, but now the laws changed.

Anyway, I will see if any of the LFS will help out. Thanks with the website!

Hopefully i will find a way to express my love for native fish. As beautiful as foreign fish may be, I find that our local species have a personality to match the harsh enivornment that can only be found in northern Europe and certain places in the States. Beside, the species I am interested outside of North American natives are just simply too big to keep and not practical to keep in an outdoor pond for two reasons:

1) They can't survive unless there is expensive artifical system in place
2) If there happen to be a flood, then it come in contact with the local waterways

The reason why Alberta enforced such heavy law is that we have a big problem with bucket biologists who breed native fish and stock lakes. Not to mention whirling disease spread quite rapidly among the fish population. Man, I remembered 6 years back officers would allow you take live fish back, but now the laws changed.

Anyway, I will see if any of the LFS will help out. Thanks with the website!

Hopefully i will find a way to express my love for native fish. As beautiful as foreign fish may be, I find that our local species have a personality to match the harsh enivornment that can only be found in northern Europe and certain places in the States. Beside, the species I am interested outside of North American natives are just simply too big to keep and not practical to keep in an outdoor pond for two reasons:

1) They can't survive unless there is expensive artifical system in place
2) If there happen to be a flood, then it come in contact with the local waterways

Couldn't resist responding as I have been chatting with you in several threads over at Monsterfishkeepers.I checked Big Al's out already and they are not interested in going down that road.
I went to a bait store the other day and got some strange looks when I mentioned what I wanted to do.Apparantly it is illegal to transport live fish here.I really don't care though.I am still going collecting here this summer and in Illinois this July.

Yeah, I figured. The fine is heavy if you get caught though.

I am still ticked off about the strict regulations, but whatever they can do to protect the environment right?

At least pet stores are willing to stock Ontario natives... I figure I can create a pseudo-Alberta tank with a couple of pickerels since the big brother Northern Pike is too big.

Anyway, good luck finding those bullheads and crappies.

Apparantly it is illegal to transport live fish here.I really don't care though.I am still going collecting here this summer and in Illinois this July.

If it is your intention to Illegally collect fish I would advise you to not publicly inform people..When you do.. it gets attention from people like me... an administrator of the forum, that is charged with responsibilities such as curbing the use of this site for illegal activity.

Please very carefully read our Forum Guidelines and abide by them. Please note we will not allow this board to be used for illegal activity and we will, if deemed necessary, restrict your access to using this board or it's information if we deem it is needed.

If it is your intention to Illegally collect fish I would advise you to not publicly inform people..When you do.. it gets attention from people like me... an administrator of the forum, that is charged with responsibilities such as curbing the use of this site for illegal activity.

Please very carefully read our Forum Guidelines and abide by them. Please note we will not allow this board to be used for illegal activity and we will, if deemed necessary, restrict your access to using this board or it's information if we deem it is needed.

Point well taken.Thanks.