This is one of 28 reports that provide the background for the Genuine Progress Indicators (GPI) System of Sustainable Well-being Accounts. It explains how we derived the fish and wildlife sustainability indices that were earlier published in Sustainability Trends 2000: The Genuine Progress Statement for Alberta, 1961 to 1999. The research for this report was completed early in 2001.
The Fish and Wildlife Report examines the status of species in Alberta. It puts a monetary value on fisheries and attempts to put a monetary figure on the value of wildlife. This report answers the following questions:
- How many amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and fish are at risk at the present time?
- How has the status of two indicator species, woodland caribou and grizzly bears, changed over time?
- What is happening to fish stocks?
- What is the trend in commercial fishing?
- What is the economic value of fisheries?
- How do we put an economic value on wildlife and what is it?
Unfortunately the conclusions are gloomy, with a large number of species at risk and fish stocks in dramatic decline. As the catch has fallen, the economic value of both recreational and commercial fishing has dropped. The prognosis for future woodland caribou populations is bad and for the grizzly bear it is highly uncertain.
