The province is trying to get a better handle on how a June oil spill into the Red Deer River and Glennifer Lake is affecting the fish population in Alberta’s waterways.

Starting Tuesday, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development will ask people fishing upstream of the Dickson Dam on the Red Deer River — including Glennifer Lake and the Dickson trout pond — up to the Banff National Park boundary to release any fish they catch.

Previously, the province recommended fish caught in Glennifer Lake not be eaten.

A local fishing guide, Dave Jensen, tells the Calgary Herald the restrictions will let the province conduct a sampling program next spring.

He adds the program will give authorities insight as to how much damage the fish population in the waterways has sustained, including contaminants in fish tissues.

Back in June, 480,000 litres of sour crude oil spilled into the Red Deer River.