Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Throwin Plastic on April 09, 2011, 07:51:44 PM
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While grabbing some snacks after work today i noticed Wild Steelhead for sale in the meat department (Lots of it)
Whats the story ? Last time i checked Steelhead was endangered or close to it.
IGA is a Large Chain Grocery Store Common In B.C. i wonder how many of thier other stores are selling it aswell.
Does our stupid government actually give out Commercial Liscences to fish them ?
Last time i shopped i noticed Farmed Atlantic Salmon on the shelf, although it was Labeled "Fresh Atlantic Salmon"
Now Wild Steelhead right beside it!
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which store?
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I believe it is called "by-catch" and there is an allowable amount entitled.
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most likely farmed rainbows
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They are not Rainbows !
They are Large Bars Of Chrome my Brother !
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It Just Pisses me off to see both on the shelf period.
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If they are not farmed steelhead, then they are likely by-catch as doja mentioned.
As steelhead don't normally school in large numbers like salmon, I think it's unlikely that commercial fisherman will specifically target steelhead in the ocean.
It won't make sense to toss by-catch overboard for steelhead.
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More than likely it's from the US. Costco has "steelheads" for sale all the time.
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superstore has steelhead, might come from ontario or u.s.
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Don't worry about it.
It's not like COSTCO or others are sneaking out to the Veddar at night to stock the shelves with the fish you're after.
If it's not farmed it's surplus.
And Note: Wild in the retail world is different than WILD in the angling world.
Wild in the retail world would include hatchery and there are a number of systems that produce and release a lot.
Also, the word FRESH simply means not previously frozen; it has nothing to do with where it came from.
Some stores may (accidentally) mislabel, and some may mislabel accidentally on purpose (though I wouldn't expect that from a large chain).
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I believe the commecial guys in the States are allowed "By-Catch"!!?
Or do they have a Brand name WILD? ::)
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Steelhead has been sold in BC stores for quite some time. A possible source of these steelhead might be the Quinault River in Washington State. The Quinault is located on the Olympic peninsula and for the most; its management is under the Control of the Quinault first nations. This band does an excellent job of maintaining and managing the steelhead population in the River, they raise steelhead in a well run hatchery facility and cater to hundreds of recreational steelheaders, the only catch being, the Quinault fishery is only available to non-native steelheaders if you hire and are in the company of a Native Guide. This Fishery is unique and seems to work very well. With what has turned out to be a large and thriving population of steelhead the Quinault first nations have engaged in the commercial sale of their fish, many of which end up in B.C. stores
If we were ever so lucky to have a Provincial Government appreciate or even recognize the social and economic potential of maintaining sound populations of anadromous species, we might one day find ourselves fishing over populations that are greater than a few hundred. What we offer here in British Columbia is nothing short of embarrassing
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i have seen wild steelhead in IGA also before and in pricesmart, both in Cloverdale. but havent seen steelhead in pricesmart for a couple months now, which is a good thing maybe they had to many complaints. And no there not always chrome bars at IGA ???
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Aquaculture for steelies is pretty big business, they usually raise them in saltwater cages just like farmed salmon.
I would guess that the supply of by steelhead catch is too small and unreliable for the likes of IGA, Costco etc. Might be a different story with smaller independent grocery stores or even fishmongers though.
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Steelhead has been sold in BC stores for quite some time. A possible source of these steelhead might be the Quinault River in Washington State. The Quinault is located on the Olympic peninsula and for the most; its management is under the Control of the Quinault first nations. This band does an excellent job of maintaining and managing the steelhead population in the River, they raise steelhead in a well run hatchery facility and cater to hundreds of recreational steelheaders, the only catch being, the Quinault fishery is only available to non-native steelheaders if you hire and are in the company of a Native Guide. This Fishery is unique and seems to work very well. With what has turned out to be a large and thriving population of steelhead the Quinault first nations have engaged in the commercial sale of their fish, many of which end up in B.C. stores
I checked with a friend of mine at one of the major seafood suppliers in town and this (above) is where they come from.
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"This band does an excellent job of maintaining and managing the steelhead population in the River, they raise steelhead in a well run hatchery facility and cater to hundreds of recreational steelheaders, the only catch being, the Quinault fishery is only available to non-native steelheaders if you hire and are in the company of a Native Guide. This Fishery is unique and seems to work very well. With what has turned out to be a large and thriving population of steelhead the Quinault first nations have engaged in the commercial sale of their fish, many of which end up in B.C. stores
If we were ever so lucky to have a Provincial Government appreciate or even recognize the social and economic potential of maintaining sound populations of anadromous species, we might one day find ourselves fishing over populations that are greater than a few hundred. What we offer here in British Columbia is nothing short of embarrassing"
Ksan, I'm surprised no one has jumped on you with what you have said.
I think people in the US are used to this sort of access restriction as their whole society since the beginning is based on Private Property and limiting Access to rivers, lakes and land.
Personally, I would not like it, and I wouldn't take part. Just like I'm not going to spend the $$ visiting Douglas Lake Ranch to fish their private hatchery enhanced ponds. As well, the Quinault as you said is on the Olympic Penninsula, which is a few hours (I think) from a major urban centre. Take a ferry over to Vancouver Island and drive three hours, I'd say the steelheading is just as good if not better (if you know where to go) and it's access is unrestricted, oh and the majority of fish are wild, not of hatchery origin.
That's my opinion
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Hi everyone! I was advised to come check out this thread, and give some info on this topic.
The Quinault River, as mentioned above, is managed by the Quinault tribe. The Quinaults heavily market their wild steelhead as sustainable, and point to their heavy hatchery supplementation as the reason for the sustainable commercial harvest. However, hatchery supplementation is far from a good thing. Scientific studies have shown that hatchery supplementation adversely affects native stocks. Furthermore, commercial harvest is performed with gill nets, which net both hatchery fish, as well as the native stocks that have been listed as "depressed" by the salmon stock inventory (SaSi). To put it bluntly; they are managing this river as a fish farm, not as a functioning wild fish habitat.
I run a website/blog that serves as a sort of home base for information on steelhead harvest: http://www.stopeatingwildsteelhead.com
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If you dont agree with it then dont buy the product. Alot of elderly and disabled people who cannot get out and catch one for the table will be able to purchase this product and enjoy it for what it is.Ive seen the product at Granville Isle market as well.
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Not big on the taste of Steelhead m'self it's my least favourite Salmonid.
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If you dont agree with it then dont buy the product. Alot of elderly and disabled people who cannot get out and catch one for the table will be able to purchase this product and enjoy it for what it is.Ive seen the product at Granville Isle market as well.
You are correct, Dennis. However, most people would not be able to tell the difference between a steelhead, and a coho salmon taken from a healthy stock. You and I may know there's a slight difference, but once prepared, the difference is minimal. The fact is that these fragile stocks of wild steelhead cannot support commercial harvest.
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The fact is that these fragile stocks of wild steelhead cannot support commercial harvest.
As a generality who could argue with the above statement, that said it would seem that the first nations commercial harvest of augmented Quinault Steelhead is quite sustainable. I'm fairly certain no ones suggesting it's OK to commercially harvest any fragile wild stock of steelhead Even though the Quinault Tribal Community nets 24/7 steelhead escapement allows for a very viable sport fishery.
Let's not loose sight of the fact that the Quinalt situation is what it is! I for one have fished this system and really enjoyed the professionalism exhibited by my Guide.
I`ve had friends compare thier successes on the Quinault to Late 70`s and early 80`s Northern Vancouver Island trips
trips that I myself enjoyed on many a winter weekend
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Hi everyone! I was advised to come check out this thread, and give some info on this topic.
The Quinault River, as mentioned above, is managed by the Quinault tribe. The Quinaults heavily market their wild steelhead as sustainable, and point to their heavy hatchery supplementation as the reason for the sustainable commercial harvest. However, hatchery supplementation is far from a good thing. Scientific studies have shown that hatchery supplementation adversely affects native stocks. Furthermore, commercial harvest is performed with gill nets, which net both hatchery fish, as well as the native stocks that have been listed as "depressed" by the salmon stock inventory (SaSi). To put it bluntly; they are managing this river as a fish farm, not as a functioning wild fish habitat.
I run a website/blog that serves as a sort of home base for information on steelhead harvest: http://www.stopeatingwildsteelhead.com
I am not a member of First Nations, or anyway affiliated with them, but I think SEWS approach on steelhead harvest by Quinault Tribe from a purely environmental or economic perspective is missing an important point that there is a historical legacy which we have all inherited with regard to First Nations/Native American resource allocation rights.
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New data will be released after the 2012 Salmon Stock Inventory. As you can see, the Quinault is not in the best of shape.
(http://www.stopeatingwildsteelhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Capture2.jpg)
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i have seen wild steelhead in IGA also before and in pricesmart, both in Cloverdale. but havent seen steelhead in pricesmart for a couple months now, which is a good thing maybe they had to many complaints. And no there not always chrome bars at IGA ???
i asked at the iga where i shop they are farmed...
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i asked at the iga where i shop they are farmed...
They raise them on the prairies somewhere and even in Newfoundland!
And now Newfies are up in arms because escaped Steelies and being found in local rivers and given the precarious state of Atlantic Salmon stocks there is cause for concern.
So it very much depends who's ox is being gored.