The Blue Fish Radio Show

Kevin Estrada is the owner of Sturgeon Slayers guided fishing in B.C. with a focus on “Catch, record, release”. Kevin leadership on Sturgeon conservation includes his championing the first ever Parliamentary bill on sturgeon that called for transitioning from gill nets to sustainable harvesting. Kevin also leads a citizen science initiative to tag and track juvenal Sturgeon, which now includes hig...

In a recent IJC report, “Assessing Progress: Climate change and algal blooms in Lake Superior”, Dr. Jay Austin, University of Minnesota’s Duluth Large Lakes Observatory, says “Lake Superior is one of the fastest-changing lakes in the world”. Dr. Austin knows this because he and his team have been measuring just how fast summer lake water temperature is warming, the decrease in duration of winter i...

Oceans are warming, fish are moving, so what can Canada’s Ocean Tracking Network tell us? We speak with dr. Frederick Whoriskey of Dalhousie University and the Executive Director of the Ocean Tracking Network. From Atlantic Salmon and Arctic Char, to Greenland and Great White sharks, and more, we find out how Canada’s east coast fish species are faring, and why Striped Bass are on the rise. Link b...

One health recognizes that every action taken in nature generates a reaction, that we need to be healthy to fully appreciate nature, and that we are dependent on nature for our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. https://bluefishcanada.ca/blue-fish-news-january-13th-2021/

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters works hard to inform outdoor anglers and hunters about outdoor opportunities and restrictions. Mr. Mark Ryckman, Manager of Policy at the OFAH, speaks with Lawrence Gunther about the challenges in 2020 and this new round of stay-at-home restrictions. It’s not all bad news thanks to strong advocacy by the OFAH to keep Ontario fishing. Link below to hear...

Dr. Steven Cooke and his Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory at Carleton University recently completed a survey called, “Covid-19 restrictions and recreational fisheries in Ontario”. Understanding how people engaged in outdoor activities such as angling during a pandemic is crucial to learning more about the “one-health” relationship people have with nature. Link below to hear Dr....

Krystyn Tully, co-founder of Swim Drink Fish Canada, is our feature guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show. After nearly 20 years with the organization, Krystyn has decided to transition into the next phase of her career as an environmentalist. Krystyn shares her insights, advice, concerns, and hopes for Canada’s environmental movement. Link below to hear Krystyn Tully in conversation with Lawrence Gun...

Much like North America, Africa too has its own Great Lakes. The African Centre for Aquatic Research and Education Collaborates with freshwater experts around the world to address the challenges facing Africa’s Great Lakes. Turns out they too are wrestling with many of the same challenges we are here in North America. Link below to hear ACARE’s CEO Dr. TED Lawrence discuss with Lawrence Gunther Af...

The new book, “Days of Rivers Past” is loaded with stories and photos chronicling the glory days of Steelhead fishing along B.C.’s coast. The author Robert Hooton is a now-retired 37-year career biologist with the B.C. government and avid Steelhead angler and is the featured guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Bob explains how the start of his career was tempered with a cautionary tail by the fishi...

Dr. John Dettmers with the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission Recently published an article about sport fish in the Great Lakes called “Whether to Manage for Economics or the Ecosystem?”. I reached out to Dr. Dettmers to be a guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show as it was clear he held another important piece of the Great Lakes fisheries puzzle. In short, what is the role, history, status and future of...

Dennis Zimmermann of Big Fish Little Fish Consultants located in White Horse YT speaks with Lawrence Gunther about community interests and values, and catch and release fishing in the Yukon Territories. Denis also reveals his favorite Yukon fish species to pursue and fishing locations. Link below to hear Denis Zimmerman week on Blue Fish Radio:

Iron Maiden from the UK, formed in 1975, is one of the world’s most epic heavy metal rock groups having over 100 million record sales. Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden's lead guitarist and self professed Compulsive Angler has been keeping busy over the past year writing a book about his fishing adventures around the world, including numerous stories about his 30-year career with Iron Maiden, called Monst...

Dr. Chris Somers is the scientist / angler behind the Saskatchewan Sportfish Research Group that focusses on what fish do after we let them go. Dr. Somers tags and tracks Walleye, Northern Pike, Burbot and Common Carp year-round. Dr. Somers discusses fish behavior and welfare, and his favorite outdoor fishing spots in Saskatchewan this week on Blue Fish Radio.

For every Great Lake except Lake Erie, there is an observed decrease in the fish populations caught in offshore waters. A new report from the International Joint Commission (IJC) looks at the decline in fish populations in the offshore regions of Lakes Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior. Link below to hear senior IJC scientist Dr. Joseph DePinto explain to Lawrence Gunther why the IJC is callin...

In 1975 while paddling the Fraser River Mark Angelo imagined a world that included paying respect to rivers and the life they represent. Over many years and with the assistance of countless others, Mark’s dream eventually lead to the United Nations declaring World Rivers Day – one Canadian’s dream now celebrated in over 100 countries. Link below to hear Mark Angelo in conversation with Lawrence Gu...

Research scientist Leigh McGaughey from the St. Lawrence Institute for Environmental Science is our guest today on Blue Fish Radio. Two years ago we first heard from Leighwhen she launched the Great River Rapport initiative with the goal of collecting data and local knowledge about the health of the St. Lawrence River. Leigh is joining us again to let us know how the project is unfolding, and the...

Think you know everything you need to know about carp? Curious to learn what the status is regarding invasive carp and the Great Lakes? Can you tell the difference between a Grass Carp and a Common Carp? Our guest on Blue Fish Radio has all the answers and so much more! He’s Brook Schryer, Aquatic Program Specialist with the Invading Species Awareness Program. Link below to get informed about the...

Dr. Sean Landsman is with the Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science at Carleton University, and is a serious Muskie angler. Sean is our guest on Blue Fish Radio for a two part series where we discuss the linkage between fish health, and dams and their fish passage systems. In this 2nd and final installment Dr. Landsman explains the different fish passage systems adopted to move...

Dr. Sean Landsman teaches at the Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science at Carleton University, and is a serious Muskie angler. Sean is our guest on Blue Fish Radio for a two part series where we discuss the linkage between fish health, and dams and their fish passage systems. IN part one of this two part series Dr. Landsman discusses with Lawrence Gunther hydro and legacy dams,...

Mr. Mike Schenk is the 2020 recipient of lifetime achievement awards from both the Ontario Conservation Officer Association and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Blue Fish Radio host Lawrence Gunther speaks with Schenk about his career, what attracted him to the profession, and what he says to young people considering a career in the outdoors. Mike and Lawrence also reflect on their...

IN Part I with Greg Taylor from Fish First Consulting we spoke about DFO’s absence of fisheries research and their inability to manage to make sure both enough salmon reach spawning grounds, and keeping fishers on the water informed to ensure sustainable fishing is taking place. In Part II Blue Fish Radio presents Taylor’s strategy for moving forward with stakeholders to assume greater responsibil...

Greg Taylor from Fish First Consulting is our guest this week and next on Blue Fish Radio. In part I Greg talks to us about the state of salmon stocks and research along Canada’s west coast, and why DFO seems to be grasping at straws when it comes to managing Fraser River salmon fisheries. Listen to Greg talk about why DFO needs to adopt salmon recovery initiatives and to respect recreational fish...

Bob Cole is part of (and a founding member) of the west coast’s most successful fisheries round table. The Port Alberni and Area 23 round table involves all fishery stakeholders. Their collective decision taking model has meant sustainable salmon numbers and equitable access to stocks for all concerned. Listen as Bob speaks with Lawrence Gunther about the successes and challenges of the round tabl...

Jeff Wilson, the man behind the Miramichi River Striper Cup, is now championing a new fishing tournament, the Atlantic Angler Challenge. Jeff has teamed up with professor Trevor Avery from Acadia University and CEO Sean Simmons from Angler Atlas to make this tournament both a competitive event with great prizes, and a citizen science project designed to advance fisheries management. Listen as Jeff...

Professor Trevor Avery teaches and conducts fisheries research out of Acadia University in Nova Scotia. More recently he’s teamed up with Jeff Wilson of the Striper Cup and Sean Simmons of Anglers Atlas to form a ground-breaking recreational fisheries research initiative called the Atlantic Anglers Challenge. The initiative rewards anglers to download and use the MyCatch app to track and report th...