To : Mr. Jati Sidhu MP Mission, Matsqui, Fraser Canyon from the residents of Spences Bridge and their Supporters.
In
2017 it is estimated that only 240 steelhead will return to the Thompson River.
Some other estimates place the number at less than 200. Historical runs are estimated to have been over 10,000 fish.
Despite what is officially categorized as a "state of Extreme Conservation Concern", commercial drift net fishing for chum salmon in the Fraser river, officially sanctioned by DFO, is estimated to have intercepted 25% of this year's run, as they do every year. In two days, 25% of the steelhead died in this fishery.
The economic and social impacts of DFO's actions on area tourism and employment is immense. DFO's actions are imposing direct harm on your constituents.
As our area MP, we respectfully request that you engage with the Honourable Fisheries Minister and demand immediate and major changes to how DFO manage their chum fisheries in the Fraser River and reduce their impact on steelhead to zero.
Updates
November 16, 2017
I honestly never expected 100 people would take an interest in this issue so quickly. This response is entirely due to your willingness to care about the Thompson Steelhead and I am just amazed that you have all come together like this.
Reached 250 supporters
November 15, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
November 13, 2017
November 12, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort since I started it. We are getting very close to the one hundred signature mark and I really believe that passing that threshold will help show how serious we are about protecting these fish.
203 Comments
The Thompson steelhead are on the verge of extinction. Drift net fisheries are an indiscriminate form of harvest, responsible for the destruction of 25% of the run. This fishery must be stopped.
I have spent thousands of dollars visiting your country to experience fishing for this great species. Now it is time for me to vote with my feet and I will not be visiting your country again until I see some tangible headway being made to halt and reverse this decline.
Chum egg fishery on the Fraser system is just not sustainable as so many other species are caught as by catch. Mostly Thompson steelhead. A sad way to treat such a precious and privileged resource.
Thompson steelhead brought me to Spences Bridge 42 years ago and I have fished and lectured in many places in NA and Europe but none matches the splendour of the wild resource that has been squandered here.
When I meet fishermen from other countries, they mourn the loss of steelhead in other historical fishing areas. They remark how we still have our Thompson steelhead. Let’s not become another has-been due to short-sighted inaction.
Stop the drift net fishery for chum salmon roe and save the critically endangered Steelhead before they are gone for good!!
I think it is a sin that our Governments have not listened to the people too let this decline continue. Please step up and stop this decline in Steelhead.
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To : Mr. Jati Sidhu MP Mission, Matsqui, Fraser Canyon from the residents of Spences Bridge and their Supporters.
In
2017 it is estimated that only 240 steelhead will return to the Thompson River.
Some other estimates place the number at less than 200. Historical runs are estimated to have been over 10,000 fish.
Despite what is officially categorized as a "state of Extreme Conservation Concern", commercial drift net fishing for chum salmon in the Fraser river, officially sanctioned by DFO, is estimated to have intercepted 25% of this year's run, as they do every year. In two days, 25% of the steelhead died in this fishery.
The economic and social impacts of DFO's actions on area tourism and employment is immense. DFO's actions are imposing direct harm on your constituents.
As our area MP, we respectfully request that you engage with the Honourable Fisheries Minister and demand immediate and major changes to how DFO manage their chum fisheries in the Fraser River and reduce their impact on steelhead to zero.
Updates
November 16, 2017
I honestly never expected 100 people would take an interest in this issue so quickly. This response is entirely due to your willingness to care about the Thompson Steelhead and I am just amazed that you have all come together like this.
Reached 250 supporters
November 15, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
November 13, 2017
November 12, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort since I started it. We are getting very close to the one hundred signature mark and I really believe that passing that threshold will help show how serious we are about protecting these fish.
203 Comments
I’ve fished this majestical place for over 20 years even going so far as to name my son after the river and have constantly caught fish covered in net marks. Those are just the lucky ones that squeezed through.
The Thompson steelhead are on the verge of extinction. Drift net fisheries are an indiscriminate form of harvest, responsible for the destruction of 25% of the run. This fishery must be stopped.
I have spent thousands of dollars visiting your country to experience fishing for this great species. Now it is time for me to vote with my feet and I will not be visiting your country again until I see some tangible headway being made to halt and reverse this decline.
Chum egg fishery on the Fraser system is just not sustainable as so many other species are caught as by catch. Mostly Thompson steelhead. A sad way to treat such a precious and privileged resource.
Thompson steelhead brought me to Spences Bridge 42 years ago and I have fished and lectured in many places in NA and Europe but none matches the splendour of the wild resource that has been squandered here.
When I meet fishermen from other countries, they mourn the loss of steelhead in other historical fishing areas. They remark how we still have our Thompson steelhead. Let’s not become another has-been due to short-sighted inaction.
Stop the drift net fishery for chum salmon roe and save the critically endangered Steelhead before they are gone for good!!
I think it is a sin that our Governments have not listened to the people too let this decline continue. Please step up and stop this decline in Steelhead.
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I’ve fished this majestical place for over 20 years even going so far as to name my son after the river and have constantly caught fish covered in net marks. Those are just the lucky ones that squeezed through.