Northern Pike and Walleye Fishing Rules Review

Official title: Northern pike and walleye management frameworks engagement

Closed Policy & Studies Environment & Climate Natural Resources
Alberta asked anglers how to better manage northern pike and walleye populations. The province wanted input on catch-and-release rules, special harvest licenses, and fishing seasons. This consultation ran in 2017-2018 and is now complete.

Why This Matters

Fish in Alberta lakes? This shaped the rules you follow today. The province used this feedback to decide where you can keep fish, where it's catch-and-release only, and how long seasons last. If you've wondered why some lakes have stricter limits, this is why.

What Could Change

Based on this engagement, Alberta updated its recreational fishing regulations. Special harvest licenses were introduced for some walleye and pike fisheries. Catch-and-release restrictions were applied to vulnerable lakes. Season lengths were adjusted in areas at risk of overfishing.

Key Issues

  • Should special harvest licenses be required for walleye and northern pike fishing?
  • Where should catch-and-release restrictions apply to protect fish populations?
  • How should fishing seasons be adjusted in areas at risk of overfishing?

How to Participate

  1. This consultation is now closed. It ran in four phases from August 2017 to March 2018, gathering feedback through surveys on fishing management questions.

What Happened

Strong support emerged for special harvest licenses, with about 75% backing them for walleye and 67% for northern pike. 91% of respondents favoured catch-and-release restrictions or closures to help fish populations recover. 70% supported special licenses in areas with short seasons to prevent overfishing. A report on engagement results and regulatory changes was developed in March 2018.