there is a lengthy thread on this tpic at:

http://forum.fishbc.com/index.php?sh...howtopic=13607




-- by the way "uliwon" is well known tackle store owner Scott Baker McGarva
and a past president of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia and one
hell of a colorful guy.

there are no numbers in my email addy. Please remove to reply
"Peter Charles" wrote in message
...
Here's a copy of a press release for CTV. Please support this fishery
by emailing/phoning Department of Fisheries (DFO) officials and voice
your complaint. The decline of steelhead on the west coast isn't just
limited to the Thompson River. A long litany of greed and stupidity
have reduced the steelhead on many rivers, to a trickel. I have never
fished for PNW steelhead and perhaps I never will, but I felt I had to
help out with this one.

This has been copied from
http://www.flyfishingforum.com/flytalk/index.htm

================================================== =====

Right now we must flood DFO's phone lines with protests ...the
Director Generals office is 604 666-6098...(Paul McGillvary)...or any
and every other Lower Fraser manager...Devona Adams has often been
very helpful....but now seems to think its no big deal...604 666-6512.

Paul McGillvary's e-mail is
Devona Adams e-mail is



Here is a Press Release prepared for CTV

Press Release,

The greatest race of steelhead in the world is in mortal danger. The
most revered sport fish in western North America is BC's Thompson
River steelhead. It isn't just changing ocean and climatic conditions
or environmental issues that threaten, but Government mismanagement.
Once again Federal and Provincial governments are at odds and the
ill-advised wishes of the DFO are taking precedent. The cost is at the
expense of one of BC's priceless natural resources - the Thompson
Steelhead.

The Thompson River has a predicted return of fewer than 800 fish this
year - this is an abysmal state of affairs. The Provincial Fisheries
Branch MWLAP has ordered the river closed to fishing, as even the
minuscule mortality rate of a catch and release fishery has been
deemed unacceptable. As hard as it is to accept, the necessity of the
closure is brutally evident to the sport fishing community.

The problem we have is with the actions of the DFO, in particular the
A/Area Management decision to allow a chum opening on the Lower Fraser
River on Wednesday October 20. All the available research shows that
this is the peak migration window through the Lower Fraser for
Thompson Steelhead. We find this outrageous and unbelievable. The
DFO's own test fishery has only caught 3 steelhead, which extrapolate
into the second worst return in 26 years. Yet DFO shows absolutely no
concern and provides a commercial opening for chum salmon

If the return numbers of Thompson steelhead are so critically low that
a closure must be applied to the least effective sector of resource
users the sport fishers, how can it be remotely justifiable that any
other fishery - let alone a commercial one be allowed? Even the
rationale for Native ceremonial fish is superseded by conservation
needs. The fact that there is a surplus of chums, does not justify the
endangerment of a seriously threatened run of fish like the Thompson
steelhead.

When the DFO was concerned about Thompson Coho, the entire commercial
industry ground to a halt to enable their recovery. Yet, when a world
famous, irreplaceable steelhead resource is threatened in the very
same river - nothing happens. In fact, the Federal Department that is
supposed to be the steward of the resource further threatens it by
enabling more commercial openings. It is no wonder that the sport
fishing community shakes it head with resignation and disbelief when
the DFO steps in.

In the case of Thompson River Steelhead the Province has championed
the needs of the fish. MWLAP biologists in Kamloops have done
everything in their power to protect the fish and promote the recovery
of the flagship of Beautiful BC's sport fishery - the Thompson
Steelhead. Yet, it seems at every turn the Federal Government's DFO
has thwarted their efforts. DFO deems the needs of an already heavily
subsidized commercial fishery take precedent over world famous natural
resource.

The steelhead community, which is local and international is outraged
and flabbergasted by this development. Furthermore, it appears that
DFO has delayed its public announcement of this opening so as to
minimize our ability to protest. This is unconscionable

Yours sincerely,


Peter

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