Salmonid fisheries enhancement

Salmonid fisheries enhancement programs seek to increase the size of fish stock in a lake or river system. Salmonid fisheries enhancement programs can include the following measures:

• Egg planting (spawning gravel or egg incubation)

• Release of juvenile fish

• Release of adult fish

The purpose of salmonid fisheries enhancement programs is to influence natural processes. However, it is important to ensure that disruption to ecosystems and natural fish stocks is kept to a minimum.

Fisheries enhancement plan

Freshwater fisheries associations or fishing right owners intending to engage in fisheries enhancement programs must prepare a fisheries enhancement plan. The Directorate of Fisheries assesses the submitted fisheries enhancement plan after receiving an opinion from the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute. The Directorate of Fisheries approves the plan if it is not considered to cause unacceptable disruption to the ecosystem of the fishing water in question.

• An approved fisheries enhancement plan is valid for five years.

• Freshwater Fisheries Association/fishing rights owner must submit information on annual juvenile fish release or other fisheries enhancement measures to the Directorate of Fisheries.

• Freshwater fisheries association/fishing rights owner must submit annual information on the release of juvenile fish or other fisheries enhancement measures to the Directorate of Fisheries.

Transfer of fish between water systems

It is prohibited to transfer fish between water systems.

An exemption from the ban can be applied for from the Directorate of Fisheries. An application for an exemption must be accompanied by:

• A report on the proposed transfer.

• An opinion from the Fish Disease Committee

  • The Fish Disease Committee assesses whether there is a risk that diseases could be transmitted between water systems through the transfer of fish.

• An opinion from the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute

  • The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute assesses the impact of the transfer on the biota and ecosystem.