As quite a few may be aware of the current topic and serious reality facing us;
Thompson and Chilcotin River Steelhead. *this petition has received over 34,000 signatures in 48 hours.
This past Fall, FLNRO released the estimated Steelhead "Spawner Abundance" for both the Thompson River and Chilcotin River. As of 2016 and 2017, the run has been classified by FLNRO as an "Extreme Conservation Concern", with
only 145 Steelhead expected to return to the Thompson River watershed,
and a mere 45 Steelhead expected to return to the Chilcotin River. These are the lowest returning numbers to date in 41 to 47 years respectively of data collection from both systems.
(Thompson River Steelhead returns in the last 10 years have varied from 650-1200 fish)In the Fall of 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) allowed Commercial and FN gill net fisheries to commence in the Fraser River while gravely endangered Interior Steelhead migrated through the Fraser River. Thompson and Chilcotin River Steelhead migration typically peaks in the second week of October (roughly October 10th), but these fish are migrating between September and through November. Migration periods of Interior Steelhead and other salmonid species coincide with Commercial and FN gill net fisheries every Fall, and we know through data collection that about 20% of the Steelhead return is to be lost during these Fall gill net fisheries in which Steelhead fall victim to incidental by-catch. We are also not to forget that Steelhead are intercepted in the Pacific Ocean during seine fisheries in areas such as Johnstone Strait.
There are certainly many issues still facing these fish; Ocean survival, bad fishing practices during Winter/Spring months, predation, water draw from rearing and spawning tributaries, but immediate changes of problems we can control must be dealt with. We cannot go ahead with yet another year of status quo non-selectibe gill net fisheries, or non-selective fisheries that coincide with these iconic Steelhead. We are dealing with a special genetic strain of Steelhead that has not only been proven to be the strongest and most fit Wild Steelhead to swim on planet Earth, but we are dealing with this species that is only 190 fish away from extirpation.
Another Fall season of these non-selective gill and seine net fisheries is unacceptable. We need the general public to come together in a time of unity to make sure we have our voices finally heard, and that action happens immediately. This is an uphill battle, but one that can be won.
Above is just one of many petitions circulating, but this particular petition is going to have the biggest outreach as organizations such as Patagonia have picked this up.
This topic has gained incredible media attention through various organizations such as CBC, Patagonia, Williams Lake Tribune, and much more. See recent articles below:
CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/extremely-close-to-being-gone-forever-b-c-fisheries-manager-says-feds-failing-interior-steelhead-1.4388170Williams Lake Tribune:
http://www.wltribune.com/news/steelhead-face-extinction-in-chilcotin-watershed/Patagonia:
https://www.facebook.com/patagoniaflyfish/photos/a.673446646041841.1073741830.672398732813299/1600255306694299/?type=3&theaterVernon Morning Star:
https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/b-c-steelhead-fishery-faces-extinction/Media Release:
http://www.bcfdf.com/bcfdf_news/2017-11-08%20BC%20wild%20steelhead%20crisis.pdf*We are holding our Annual Pub Night Fundraiser on Thursday, November 23rd, 2017 at Micky's Public House in Coquitlam. At this event, you can also sign our own SSBC Hand-Signed Petition which will also be delivered to various MLA's and MP's. We also encourage those attending to ask questions to our Directors about the current topic at hand*
The Steelhead Society of BC