There is now a petition posted online for individuals that would like to see the province manage the Thompson and other interior Steelhead stocks in consistency with the same conservation based tackle restrictions that have proven to protect wild Steelhead in other BC regions. This is in keeping with the mandate to harmonize and simplify fishing regulations throughout the province while increasing the quality of the Thompson fishery and the longevity of these important fish.
">sign here
To: BC Minister of Environment
To the Honourable Barry Penner, British Columbia Minister of Environment.
We, the undersigned, hereby request that a “bait ban” sport fishing regulation be implemented for Interior Fraser River steelhead prior to the next sport fishing opening. (Interior Fraser steelhead rivers include the Thompson, Chilcotin, Seton, Bridge, Nahatlach and all other rivers in the Interior of BC where steelhead are known to inhabit.)
The principles of a bait ban as outlined in the BC government document “Bait Ban as a Management Tool” (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/docs/2001/bait_ban.pdf) demonstrate that such a regulation would be desirable among the angling public.
These steelhead
- are highly accessible;
- are vulnerable to capture; and
- every spawner counts.
Further,
- there is a need to protect juvenile fish;
- the steelhead population is small; and
- there is a need to spread the catchable supply of steelhead over more anglers.
According to the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations the definition of bait is: ‘“Bait” is any foodstuff or natural substance used to attract fish, other than wood, cotton, wool, hair, fur or feathers. It does not include fin fish, other than roe. It includes roe, worms and other edible substances, as well as scents and flavourings containing natural substances or nutrients.”
Posts
