Partnering To Protect FishTom
Tomaszewski
Members
of
the
Camrose
and
District
Fish
and
Game
Association
are
doing
what
they
can
to
protect
Alberta’s
vulnerable
fish
stocks
by
offering
a
unique
product
to
anglers
handling
fish
this
summer.
The
intent
is
to
decrease
the
time
a
fish
spends
out
of
the
water
and
to
reduce
the
physical
human
contact
when
it
is
being
measured
for
compliance
with
provincial
legislation. The
Camrose
Club
has
designed
and
constructed
a
product
that
they
are
calling
the
‘Fish
Measurer’.
Everyone
knows
that
the
amount
of
time
a
fish
spends
out
of
the
water
can
be
critical
to
its
survival.
Based
on
that
premise,
they
have
designed
a
product
with
hopes
to
reduce
fish
mortality.
Using
the
product
is
simple.
The
fish
is
placed
on
the
measurer
on
its
belly
with
the
nose
against
the
front
of
the
tube
and
secured
with
a
hand
over
its
back.
This
allows
the
angler
to
quickly
and
accurately
take
a
total
or
‘pinched’
length
reading.
By
using
the
Fish
Measurer,
fish
can
be
measured
and
back
in
the
water
more
than
twice
as
fast
as
conventional
methods
such
as
a
tape
measure
or
ruler.
The
Fish
Measurer
not
only
adds
speed
to
the
process,
it
also
cradles
and
supports
the
fish
while
enabling
it
to
be
handled
and
controlled
with
greater
ease.
Although
no
physical
tests
were
conducted
to
confirm
this,
handling
a
fish
in
this
manner
can
only
reduce
the
level
of
stress
caused
to
it
when
compared
to
conventional
measuring
techniques.
To
date,
the
club
has
built
500
units
that
can
be
sold
for
under
$13
(retail)
and
have
scheduled
a
work
group
to
build
another
500
in
the
near
future.
The
club
is
very
excited
about
the
‘Fish
Measurer’
initiative
and
have
had
their
product
endorsed
by
a
number
of
Fish
and
Wildlife
officers
and
biologists.
The
feedback
the
club
is
receiving
is
to,
“Get
the
product
out
to
fishermen!” The
Camrose
and
District
Fish
and
Game
Association
would
like
everyone
to
know
that
they
are
also
very
involved
in
supporting
fish
enhancement
projects.
A
portion
of
the
money
raised
through
Fish
Measurer
sales
will
be
directed
to
fishery
enhancement
programs.
The
club
will
also
wholesale
the
Fish
Measurers
to
stores
and
other
retailers
so
they
can
get
the
product
out
to
the
public
‑
never
losing
track
of
the
club’s
primary
objective
to
reduce
catch
and
release
mortality. For
additional
information
on
the
product
or
where
you
can
purchase
them,
people
can
contact
Tom
at
(780)
672-1616
or
any
other
member
of
the
Camrose
and
District
Fish
and
Game
Association.
Tom
Tomaszewski
is
a
member
of
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