High temperatures and low water levels have led the province to ban fishing on some local rivers.

Lisa Glover with Alberta Environment and Parks says the temporary bans are to safeguard fish populations that would be stressed by being caught, even if anglers practice catch and release.

"The temperature of the water gets very hot and there's not as much oxygen available to the fish," Glover says.

The province says the following areas are closed to all fishing until further notice:

Sheep River from headwaters to Highwood River;
Highwood River from headwaters to Bow River;
St. Mary River, downstream of the St. Mary Reservoir and tributaries;
Belly River, downstream of Secondary Road 800;
Bow River from Bearspaw Reservoir to the W.H.D. Weir;
Bow River from W.H.D Weir to the Carseland Weir;
Bow River from Carseland Weir to Highway 24 bridge;
Bow River from Highway 24 bridge downstream to Bassano Dam; and
Elbow River from Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River confluence.
These closures will also result in the temporary suspension of all Fisheries Research Licences issued in these waters.

Anglers are asked to continue exercising caution and abiding by safe handling procedures in the following areas:

Castle River and tributaries from Highway 3 upstream to Westcastle River;
Oldman River from Racehorse Creek downstream to Oldman Reservoir; and from Highway 2 near Fort Macleod downstream to Secondary Road 509;
Crowsnest River from Crowsnest Lake downstream to Oldman Reservoir;
Belly River, downstream of Secondary Road 800;
Waterton River, downstream of Waterton Reservoir;
Waterton River, upstream of the Waterton Reservoir including tributaries; and
St. Mary River upstream, of the St. Mary Reservoir, including Lee Creek.

Glover says they'll need to see a few days of consistently lower temperatures before they'll remove the ban.

She says Fish & Wildlife Officers will be out patrolling the affected rivers and anyone caught fishing in them will be fined.

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