Arctic Grayling Monitoring

A key step in managing human impacts on fish populations is assessing individual fish stocks in a consistent way across space and time. To achieve this, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development developed the Alberta Fish Sustainability Index (FSI), which relies on demographic data from minimally disturbed “reference” populations. The Mikkwa River, with its pristine headwaters and lack of major industrial development, was identified as a candidate reference site for Arctic grayling. This study aimed to collect baseline demographic data on Arctic grayling in the Mikkwa River to support FSI development.

On Mikkwa River, researchers captured fish at three sites using backpack electrofishing and 8 sites using test angling; on Burnt River they captured fish at one site using test angling. They captured 7 Arctic grayling: one by angling and 6 by electrofishing. Arctic grayling ranged in size from 55 to 273 mm fork length, with a mean size (± standard deviation) of 154 ± 85 mm (n = 7). The research team discontinued field surveys after two days because of low captures of grayling despite intensive effort. Limited Arctic grayling catch data precluded this project from providing a detailed assessment and conclusions regarding the Arctic grayling population in the Mikkwa River.