EDMONTON - To improve the survival of fish released by anglers, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development intends to make barbless hooks mandatory in 2004 - part of the province's plan to improve Alberta's fisheries.

Catch-and-release fishing is required for many of Alberta's lakes and streams to better manage certain fish populations - including pike, which often swallow hooks deeply. Because removing barbed hooks can cause serious injury, the use of barbless hooks could help more fish live.

"Alberta's fish populations are under high fishing pressure and we need to maximize the survival of released fish," said Mike Cardinal, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.

Barbless hooks are those with the barbs flattened or absent. The barbless type are easier to remove from fish, which will reduce handling time and allow more fish to be released without being handled at all. As fish handling is recognized as a major factor in the safe release of fish, more fish should survive with the reduced handling required by barbless hooks.

Vern McIntosh, Alberta Fish and Game Association Fish Chairman says, "Barbless hooks reduce handling time which accounts for mortality of fish. The less you have to handle a fish, the greater the chance of survival. It's that simple."

Anglers and fishing supplies stores have nearly two years to make any adjustments before the change becomes effective. However, anglers simply need pliers to pinch down existing barbed hooks, and fishing suppliers will still be able to sell barbed as well as barbless hooks.

Manitoba banned the use of barbed hooks years ago. British Columbia recently banned barbed hooks in the majority of its trout streams, and for salmon fishing in freshwater and saltwater.

Additional information on the safe handling of fish is provided in brochures entitled: How to Handle and Release Northern Pike Successfully and Release Fish with Care. These pamphlets are available at Fish and Wildlife offices of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, and government Information Centres in Edmonton and Calgary.

Media contacts:

John Lear
Public Affairs Officer, Communications
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
(780) 427-8636

Dave Berry
Recreational, Fisheries Specialist
Fish and Wildlife Division
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
(780) 427-8347