Technology is Changing Fishing

by Art Jones

So you've launched the boat, you've got the life jackets, paddles, gas for the motor, rods and tackle boxes, the fish finder and the underwater video camera. Hold on a second here, the fish finder and underwater video camera?

Yes that's right, more and more anglers are going high tech to help them get a leg or a fin up on the fish they are going after.

It used to be that anglers used very little equipment. Usually a rod, some line, a hook and some bait was all that was needed to catch dinner.

Today technology and miniaturization have led to gadgets and gizmos becoming as much a part of fishing as spinners, plugs, spoons, jigs, worms and leeches.

Fish finders are basically sonar devices that show the angler what is underneath the boat, including bottom contours and fish. They became commercially available about 20 years ago using sonar technology similar to what submarines used during the Second World War. Now the technology is comparable to what can be found on the space shuttle.

Many fish finders come with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems, which allow anglers to know where the boat is in any weather. Some units are capable of accepting a software download that lets anglers create detailed fishing maps of most of Canada's lakes and rivers. Some models even have a GPS safety feature, an alarm that goes off if the boat drifts out of a designated area. Handy if you happen to doze off!

The latest "toy" many anglers are buying is an underwater video camera. It can be dropped off the side of a boat or through a hole in the ice. The camera cable, which is usually between 20 and 70 metres long, is then hooked up to a small monitor.

Underwater cameras have given anglers a view of a whole new world and have made the sport more entertaining.

"We sell quite a few of these units every year," says Greg Prokopetz, of Pokey's Tackle Shop in Regina. " I use one myself and not only does it let me see what kinds of fish that are under the boat, it gives me a better idea of how they behave. It also lets me see how my lure or bait rig is behaving. You may think you have the best tackle set up in the world but if it doesn't work properly underwater you're wasting your time."

Being able to see what fish are in the water and how they behave also leads to a better understanding of how fish live and the kind of habitat each species prefers.

Saskatchewan Environment's Murray Everett says the camera can also be a tool for conservation.

"The angler may get into a particular habitat that supports a species of fish that has a reduced or limited quota due to low populations," says Everett. "The angler can quickly move the hook if an unwanted fish, such as a very small perch or walleye, attempts to bite the lure. It could also reduce the impact of catching some fish. For example, if the angler finds that there is a lot of small perch in deep water he or she may not want to catch them. If the small perch were caught in deep water, by the time they were pulled to the surface their air bladder would be enlarged and chances of survival, if returned to the water, would be slim."

Both Pokey's Prokoptez and Environment's Everett say even if you have all the technology available you still can't make fish bite, that often depends on several factors, including whether the fish are feeding, if they are being aggressive, the time of day and even the weather.

For more information contact:

Murray Everett
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-1144
Greg Prokopetz
Pokey's Tackle Shop
(306) 359-1910

Or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca

Saskatchewan radios help fight poaching in Africa

Saskatchewan radios help protect African wildlife

by Art Jones

For nearly 30 years the Motorola PT-300 radio was one of the main tools Saskatchewan Environment conservation officers used to help protect the province's wildlife. The 228 radios enabled conservation officers to talk to each other or to stay in contact with a main base. They used to the radios during activities that ranged from coordinating night patrols for poachers to fighting forest fires.

Each radio weighs about two kilograms, takes 11 "D" cell batteries and has a range of about 15 kilometres without using a repeater and 50 kilometres using a repeater. The replacement value of each unit, based on a new model that does the same job, is about $1500.

In 2000, when these radios were replaced, one of the questions became what to do with them. The answer was found in Africa.

Members of the non-profit Saskatchewan Association of Conservation Officers thought it would be a good idea to donate the radios to several African countries to help in their wildlife conservation efforts. Even though the Motorola PT-300 radios were retired from use in Saskatchewan they were still better than many of the systems in use by conservation officers
in Africa.

Setting the donation up took a lot more than simply packaging the radios and sending them to the countries. The Saskatchewan Association of Conservation Officers bought the radios from the province and donated them through the Ranger Relief program. This international program aids developing countries by gathering used or retired law enforcement equipment and distributing it to game wardens in these countries.

"More often than not, this is the only equipment these officers have to combat poaching," says Dean Grisdale, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Conservation Officers.

The Association's members also coordinated the transfer of the radios from the province to the federal government. The radio project also took a partnership between the provincial and federal governments, federal and provincial wildlife agencies and non-government organizations. Saskatchewan Environment tested and repaired the radios and got them ready for shipping.

The Canadian Wildlife Service coordinated the delivery of the equipment to Ottawa, the International Fund for Animal Welfare contributed 110 antennas and enough batteries for six months and the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade delivered the radios in diplomatic pouches.

But like many projects, the radio donation got its start with one person.

"One of our members remembered seeing the request to assist African agencies when he heard that these old radios were going to be sold," says Grisdale.

"He approached the association's executive and everyone agreed this was definitely a worthwhile cause. I think that it simply proves, once again, that no matter where you are, protecting our natural resources is more than just a career choice. It is a strong personal commitment, be it here or in Africa and we are just glad we could help out. It is great to see the
cooperation between so many agencies. It validates what we do."

Saskatchewan Environment's Director of Enforcement, Dave Harvey, says the people involved in conserving and protecting wildlife are facing similar challenges, especially from poachers. In Africa, poachers are still going after many endangered or threatened animals. They also take elephants for their ivory and rhinoceroses for their horns.

"We in North America take much of what we do and have for granted," says Environment's Harvey. "It is our hope that these radios will help our counterparts in African countries protect their valuable wildlife resources from poaching. Basically, anything we can do to help, we will."

The radios were sent to Chad, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Uganda and Zambia.

For more information contact:

Dean Grisdale
President
Saskatchewan Association of Conservation Officers
(306) 752-6214
Dave Harvey
Director of Enforcement
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 953-2993
dharvey@serm.gov.sk.ca

Or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca

A snowmobile that was used to chase down coyotes

Dead coyotes seized by a conservation officer

Out of Control Coyote Hunt An Act Of Cruelty

by Art Jones

For many people a snowmobile ride is one of the joys of winter. The sound of the machine, the beauty of the snow-covered land, lakes and rivers and the crisp cold air all add to the thrill of the ride. Sometimes there is even the extra bonus of seeing some wildlife.

But what some do when they see that wildlife is against the law. They like to use their snowmobiles to chase and even kill the animals, especially coyotes.

"People should take a minute to think about what they're doing before they run down an animal," says Environment's Lucyshyn.

"In Saskatchewan, animals in the wild spend most of their time simply trying to survive the winter. So when someone goes after them with a snowmobile they don't have a chance. Not only do they get terribly frightened, the snow is usually too deep for them to run very far without becoming exhausted, while a snowmobile never gets tired. Conservation officers have even found deer that have been chased for so long they simply died of exhaustion. Chasing
and killing any animal like this is not a sport, it is an act of the most extreme cruelty."

Someone convicted of pursuing animals with snowmobiles or any vehicle can face significant fines. The maximum penalty under the Wildlife Act is $100,000. A court case from this past autumn saw a trio of men from British Columbia lose both their hunting and driving privileges after they were convicted of using their vehicle to chase deer. People also need permission to snowmobile on private land.

Many producers have crops such as alfalfa or winter wheat that can be easily damaged by snowmobiles. People who do not get permission to go on someone's land are technically trespassing and can be asked to leave.

All animals, even coyotes, have a role to play in the environment. Although coyotes occasionally bother stock their main food is small animals such as mice and rabbits. Autopsies on animals run over by snowmobiles have shown nothing more in their stomachs than the remains of small animals.

"Like most wild animals coyotes are opportunists," says Saskatchewan Environment conservation officer, Doug Lucyshyn.

"Sometimes a free meal is easiest for them so they'll wander into farmyards, particularly at calving time. They will sometimes take a newborn calf or feed on a dead one. If there are any dead animals farmers should haul them far enough away from the calving area or bury them so the coyotes won't be drawn in."

There are many ways to prevent the loss of livestock to predators and producers should contact their local conservation officer if they are having problems.

In recent years predator numbers have increased and it's legal for Saskatchewan residents to hunt and trap coyotes and foxes outside of the Fur Conservation Blocks, year round, without a license. However, anyone wishing to sell the pelts has to buy a fur license. People must remember that they still need permission from the landowner or occupant to hunt or trap on
their property.

"Chasing animals is simply not worth the effort and it is also dangerous," says Lucyshyn.

"People have been badly hurt while using snowmobiles to chase wildlife. When you are going at a high rate of speed it is easy to hit a rock, fence or other obstruction. Your life isn't worth the pelt of a coyote or fox."

"There are a lot of wide open spaces in Saskatchewan," says Environment's Lucyshyn. "However, there are many people in the country that may see this type of activity and we are asking people who see someone being cruel like this to call the local conservation officer. He or she will act as quickly as possible."

People can also call the toll-free "Turn-In-Poachers" line at
1-800-667-7561.

For more information contact:

Doug Lucyshyn
Saskatchewan Environment
Conservation Officer
(306) 948-3588
dlucyshyn@serm.gov.sk.ca

Or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca

Selling deer, elk or moose antlers? What you need to know

by Art Jones

For many hunters there is not much that's more rewarding than taking a white-tailed or mule deer buck or a bull elk or moose. Not only do they get "bragging rights" and good nutritious meat, they also often get a nice set of antlers or horns as a trophy.

But over the years some hunters have found they have collected too many sets of antlers and want to get rid of some. The solution is often to throw them away, give them away, move them to the shed or sell them.

Those who choose to sell their legally taken antlers should be aware that some conditions apply to the sale. Someone planning to sell antlers that are attached to the skull plate needs a sale of wildlife permit even if they have the licence used to take the animal. A sale of wildlife permit is not needed if the antlers have been separated from the skull plate and the seller still has the licence used to take the animal. If they don't have the licence then they need to get a sale of wildlife permit.

Sale of wildlife permits are free and available at any Saskatchewan Environment office.

"The sale of wildlife permits are an important tool," says Dave Harvey of Saskatchewan Environment. "The close monitoring of the movement of big game antlers is necessary to protect the world quality big game resource in this province and guard against the illegal traffic in wildlife. Without this kind of tracking and cross-checking, it would become easier for someone to abuse the resource and that would put it at risk for now and for thefuture."

Beginning this fall Saskatchewan Environment is changing the procedures for hunters who wish to sell legally taken deer antlers.

"This fall the white-tailed and mule deer hunting licences will be changed to include a head seal that must be attached to the antlers or head of any legally taken deer," says Environment's Harvey.

"By having this new head seal, we should see a reduction in the number of cases where a hunter wants to sell antlers separated from the skull, but can no longer find the hunting licence used to take the animal so is forced to get a sale of wildlife permit."

To address a backlog of antlers that hunters may have collected over the years a change of procedure is now in place that allows them to sell antlers that have been separated from the skull without having to get a sale of wildlife permit. The change is in effect until September 1, 2004.

"The procedural change gives hunters the opportunity to sell some of those old sets of antlers without having to get a sale of wildlife permit, provided that the antlers are separated from the skull plate," says Environment's Harvey.

"It is important to note that this change does not apply to antlers that remain attached to the skull plate. They are considered trophies and still fall under the sale of wildlife requirements. Hunters wishing to sell these antlers will still be required to get a sale of wildlife permit from a Saskatchewan Environment office."

After September 1, 2004 current regulations will once again apply. They allow people to sell naturally shed antlers without producing a hunting licence or a sale of wildlife permit. Someone who has legally taken an animal and wishes to sell antlers that are still attached to the skull needs a permit. Antlers that are not attached to the skull may be sold without a permit provided the seller can produce the hunting licence used to take the animal. If the licence is not available then the seller needs to get a sale of wildlife permit. Antlers taken from road killed animals or under Treaty Rights may not be sold.

People who use antlers for artwork may also sell them without a permit, provided they were obtained legally, have been separated from the skull and have been processed into a form of artwork.

For more information contact;

Dave Harvey
Director of Enforcement
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 953-2993
dharvey@serm.gov.sk.ca

Or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca

A typical algae bloom found in Saskatchewan

Algae Blooms

by Art Jones

Every year during the warm summer months many Saskatchewan lakes may suddenly take on a soupy appearance. The water surface becomes blue-green, bright blue, grey or tan in color. The organisms responsible for these changes are microscopic plants called algae or phytoplankton. When algae grows so thick it makes the water look like pea soup, it's called an algal bloom.

Algal blooms commonly occur during calm, hot weather in areas of lakes and reservoirs where the water is slow moving and rich in nutrients.

An algal bloom can last as long as two or three weeks and may actually be pushed around the lake or reservoir by the wind.

Murray Hilderman of Saskatchewan Environment says dying and decomposing alga occasionally reduce the oxygen level in shallow water bodies so much that it sometimes kills fish.

"Because these factors vary from year to year and from one lake to another, it is difficult to predict when an algal bloom will occur, except to say that they are more prevalent from June to mid September," says Environment's Hilderman.

"Unfortunately, this coincides with our most active season for outdoor recreation, and because floating or shoreline algal masses aren't nice to look at, people often complain about the appearance and color of the water during summer months."

Environment's Hilderman also says although many types of harmless algae can create blooms, blue-green algae are of greater concern because they can be toxic.

"Blue-green algae contains toxins which can be released into the water when the cells are stressed, rupture or die," explains Hilderman.

"When ingested in large quantities these toxins are powerful enough to kill livestock and pets. Humans may also be affected by swimming in blue-green algae. Possible symptoms in humans include skin reactions, sore throat, nausea, cramps, vomiting and diarrhea."

Environment's Hilderman says without a microscope it's hard to tell whether the algae is blue-green or a harmless type, so people should avoid areas of a lake that have an algae bloom. Children should be supervised to make sure they don't drink the water and alternative water sources should be provided for livestock and pets.

If someone is looking for more information about algae or algae blooms they can contact any office of Saskatchewan Environment.

For more information contact;

Murray Hilderman
Environmental Sciences Section
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-6181
mhilderman@serm.gov.sk.ca

or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca

Using Plants To Help Keep The Environment Clean

by Art Jones

It has got a big name and an intriguing potential.

It's called phytoremediation and it basically means using green and growing things, such as plants and trees, to help clean up the environment.

Research shows that plants can be used to clean up many kinds of pollution including metals, pesticides, explosives and oil.

Phytoremediation works by using the natural ability trees and plants have to draw water and nutrients out of the soil. When the roots of a plant or tree draw in water or nutrients from polluted soil, streams or ground water they also draw in the pollution. Once inside the plant or tree the pollutant is either stored in the roots, stems or leaves; changed into less harmful chemicals or changed into gases that are released into the atmosphere as the plant breathes.

Phytoremediation can also take place even if the pollutants are not taken in through the roots. For example, pollutants may stick or "sorb" to plant roots. Or they can be changed into less harmful substances by bugs or microbes that live near the roots through a process called bioremediation.

Plants can also be used to help stop wind, rain and groundwater from carrying pollution into other areas.

"This is an intriguing area of scientific research," says Dr. Rory McIntosh of Saskatchewan Environment. "We already know that some plants growing in Saskatchewan, such as red fescue and poplar trees, can remove pollutants from the soil and water. But there are still questions that need to be answered. For example, insects and animals may eat the plants used for phytoremediation. It needs to be determined if they will be harmed or whether they will harm larger animals that may eat them. In general, there is no known threat to humans as long as they don't eat the plants."

Phytoremediation is being tested in several areas in North America and research is being carried out at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

"One of things being looked at is the time it takes to clean up a site using phytoremediation," says Environment's McIntosh.

"Because cleanup time is related to the type and number of plants used, the types of pollutants, size and depth of the polluted area and soil conditions, phytoremediation can take years. Plants that have reached maturity are harvested and destroyed or recycled, if the pollutant stored in the plant can be re-used. Usually trees are left to grow and are not harvested."

Environment's McIntosh says the beauty of phytoremediation is that it takes advantage of natural processes, which requires less labour, less equipment and reduces the chances of workers coming in contact with a pollutant. And to top it off, says Environment's McIntosh, the plants and trees look a lot nicer than an area that has been processed using heavy
equipment.

For more information contact:

Rory McIntosh
Forest Entomologist
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 953-3617
rmcintosh@serm.gov.sk.ca

Or

Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca