Research

Sport Angler Survey

Rationale

Fly fishing at Crooked Creek, Ivvavik National Park. © Parks Canada

For over a decade the Inuvialuit provided subsistence fish catch information to the Inuvialuit Harvest Study. However, during this period there had been no comprehensive survey of recreational anglers fishing in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The annual sport angler survey provides resource co-managers with a more complete body of information to better manage our fish stocks for the Inuvialuit who depend on the fish as an important food source, and for the continued enjoyment of recreational anglers from the north and around the world.

Objectives

• To determine the number, species and location of fish caught by sport anglers within the ISR during the spring and summer fishing season.
• To develop more effective promotional and educational programs to inform the public about the ISR private lands fishing registry.
• To promote awareness of the Fisheries Joint Management Committee and their mandate to recreational anglers.

Methods and Information Collected

• The sport angler survey is conducted with recreational anglers purchasing a licence, or registered to fish, in the ISR between April and September each year.
• Anglers surveyed include those issued with:
  a) Northwest Territories sport fishing licenses by vendors within the Inuvik region,
  b) Northwest Territories sport fishing licenses with an “ISR validation” by vendors from outside the Inuvik region,
  c) Parks Canada fishing permits to fish within National Parks in the ISR.
• Information is gathered from recreational anglers using a mail-out questionnaire that is self-completed and returned by mail.
• The information that is collected includes: total number of fish caught, number of fish retained, location, month, gear type used, angler preference for fish species, intent to ice fish in the ISR during the winter and use of fishing guides and outfitter serves.
• To increase angler participation, a reminder letter and a second questionnaire mail-out is sent to non-responders. A prize draw incentive for participants is offered.

Results

• Seventy percent of Parks Canada fishing permit holders returned a completed questionnaire for the 2001 survey.
• Most sport fish catches were reported from along the Firth River corridor in Ivvavik National Park.
• Grayling was the most common fish caught. Arctic char was the most preferred sport species.
  
  

Source: McLean, E.B. (in prep) Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) 2001 Spring-summer sport angler survey. Canada/Inuvialuit Fisheries Joint Management Committee TEchnical Report, Inuvik, NT

Sport fish species caught in ISR National Parks between Apr 1 - Sept 30, 2001	% of anglers fishing in ISR national Parks who caught given species(keep and/or release (N=45)	Total # of fish kept (mean # of fish per angler)	Total # of fish released (mean # of fish per angler)
Grayling	69% (31)	41 (1)	207 (7)
D. Varden Char	27% (12)	42 (4)	32 (3)
Lake Trout	9% (4)	10	6
Arctic Char	9% (4)	8	2

Partners

• Fisheries Joint Management Committee (project lead)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development

Funding

• Fisheries Joint Management Committee
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Data Location

• Fisheries Joint Management Committee
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Parks Canada, Inuvik

Contacts

Kevin Bill
Resource Biologist
Fisheries Joint Management Committee
Joint Secretariat - Inuvialuit
Renewable Resource Committees
P.O. Box 2120
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
Phone: (867) 777-2828
Fax: (867) 777-2610
fjmc@jointsec.nt.ca

Ed McLean
Manager of Resource Conservation
Parks Canada
Box 1840
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
Phone: (867) 777-8818
Fax: (867) 777-8820
Ed. McLean@pc.gc.ca

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