The celebration will focus around the production of a hard cover, full colour book filled with people, personalities, stories, and events that spanned 100 years and shaped management practices throughout the last century. Fish, Fur, and Feathers will present an historical and pictorial overview of the management and conservation of Alberta’s fisheries and wildlife resources from its inception to its current practice.
The history of fish and wildlife management and conservation in Alberta is a rich and colourful tapestry waiting to be explored. Establishing a "fish and game" authority was one of the first acts the new province of Alberta undertook soon after it was established in 1905. In a mere hundred years, the management of fisheries and wildlife resources has grown from a handful of volunteer game guardians to a diverse array of federal and provincial government biologists, technicians, and enforcement officers, as well as strong proponents in all levels of educational institutions and a rich assortment of conservation groups throughout the province. This complexity is necessary in today’s world, where a growing number of users place increasing stress on all wild species and the habitats on which they depend.
The book will introduce the province’s prehistory (Chapter 1 Pre-1905: Setting the Stage) and government structure (Chapter 2 Evolution of the Fish and Wildlife Division), then follow with three general "eras" reflecting the philosophy of wildlife management as it played out over the century: preservation [so that all was not lost], conservation [managing too much of a good thing], then education [success by shared stewardship].
The first era of wildlife management was an effort by the province to preserve dwindling populations yet maintain the consumption of game species by enforcing hunting and fishing regulations (Chapter 3 The Enforcers). As well, in response to the decline of several big game species, critical national parks and sanctuaries were created (Chapter 4 Big Game and Big Parks). By the 1930s, some of the driving force behind wildlife management was economic in nature – using government initiatives to create trapping and fur farm industries in a young province trying to survive a decade of drought and depression (Chapter 5 Bounties, Fur Bearers and Fur Farmers).
The second era of wildlife management saw the need to preserve overtaken by the desire to conserve. Game law enforcement continued but new approaches were added. There was a move towards the research of game and commercial species, particularly in the fisheries resource (Chapter 6 Fisheries Research and Management). New conservation organizations with a long-range view provided direct public involvement in wildlife management. Along with government, the Alberta Fish and Game Association introduced several new species of game birds to the province (Chapter 7 Upland Game Birds – Research and Enhancement). Ducks Unlimited conducted large-scale waterfowl surveys and initiated habitat restoration projects in the 1940s, the first such programs in the province (Chapter 8 Waterfowl – Surveys and Wetland Management).
Today, in the third and most recent era, game management is only a portion of a much broader encompassing view of wildlife management and conservation. The guiding philosophy is education as a basis for shared stewardship of landscapes and ecosystems. The role of public education is expanded (Chapter 9 Public Information and Education), non-game species are recognized by the provincial government with a new branch and overwhelming public support (Chapter 10 Threatened Species and the Non-game Branch) and habitat is recognized as playing a key role in managing all wildlife species (Chapter 11 Habitat Management).
Finally, in Epilogue – The Future, the book will provide some collective thoughts on the major successes and failures of the past century as well as the major challenges facing wildlife managers in the next century.
If you have an interest in helping with the book,
If you have photos, artifacts, or stories that provide a slice of fish and wildlife history,
If you have a knack for organizing a mountain of photographs,
If you have funds or contacts that could offer financial support,
If you have a burning desire to be any part of the creating this wonderful legacy……..
please do not hesitate to contact the Project Coordinator: Petra Rowell (780 – 458-5560, prowell@telusplanet.net )
Fish and Wildlife Division
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