Steelhead Politics: A reply from Linda Reid

[btree]

I assume a few people got this reply from Linda Reid's office. So now what? Is this just the status quo or is this progress?

"Thank you for contacting my office expressing your concerns over ensuring the future of the wonderful steelhead trout in our province. I share your concerns over the abundance and survival of this iconic British Columbia fish.

Reflecting these concerns, a third of the BC Liberal government caucus recently engaged in a consultation meeting, briefing, and discussion of the troubling situation. That “Steelhead Summit” meeting was in workshop format and attended by approximately 60 representatives from the angling community, sports fishing, fishery biologists, government experts, and conservationists.

Arising from that meeting, experts such as Al Lill, former DFO executive and author of the Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan, and Rod Clapton, B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers President and Chair of the South Coast Steelhead Coalition, are synthesizing findings and advice arising from the Steelhead Summit for presentation to the entire BC Liberal government caucus shortly. This report will take into account the concurrent recommendations of the Pacific Salmon Forum Final Report recently released under the chairmanship of the distinguished John Fraser, and Living Water Smart, the provincial water strategy recently released by the Ministry of Environment under Hon. Barry Penner.

We understand that the answer to the long-term survival and prosperity of this unique and important fish species cannot be easily addressed. Please be assured that we are doing all that we can to reach that goal.


From Ministry of Environment:

There is no doubt that steelhead face many challenges and we share your concern for this species. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for steelhead management and is implementing a number of initiatives with our partners and stakeholders to restore habitat, rebuild populations where numbers are depressed, and improve the management regime to maintain the quality angling experience for this species. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the Living Rivers Trust Fund have invested millions of dollars in priority steelhead projects throughout the Province and they will be continuing to do so in 2009

Among the most significant initiatives is Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan. This plan includes provision for changes to the Water Act to recognize water flow requirements for ecosystems and species. Changes to BC’s water laws will improve the protection of ecological values including those values associated with BC’s wild fish resources. Particular attention will be directed to those areas experiencing or expected to experience water supply shortages.

Steelhead conservation management has been an important challenge for the Ministry, particularly since the abundance of steelhead throughout southern BC declined sharply in the late 1980’s and since. This decline is now understood to have been the result of dramatic decline in survival brought about through changes in the ocean environment. This change has been linked to climate cycles, but may also be linked to climate change. The provincial government has made climate change a top priority. Our strategy is one of mitigation and adaptation, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

The Ministry of Environment has dedicated staff that are responsible for the management of all freshwater fish in the province (which includes steelhead). To ensure conservation objectives are achieved and sustainable fishing opportunities maintained the Ministry also relies heavily on our partners and stakeholders for assistance."


Honourable Linda Reid, M.L.A
130-8040 Garden City Rd.
Richmond, BC V6Y 2N9
P:604.775.0891
F:604.775.0999

[tbar24]

i just got that letter back and there were a few things that caught my attention, the carbon sinks do remove co2 but the only other greenhouse gas it really removes its water vapour(which is the most abundant greenhouse gas) but besides that i was happy to finaly get a real return to the letter instead of the" your opinion is greatly aprreciated"
hopefully its progress
-tyler-

[phearless]

Same reply.

Don't give up.

This is how it starts.

We need to keep the ball rolling now.

[Rick Baerg]

Im feeling left out, I never got no email??

[phearless]

Did you send out the email to all the mla's etc at the end of the month?

[Rick Baerg]

I finally got a reply back today, generic letter but at least someone replied. It seams that only the liberals are reply back to our emails sent???

Dear Mr. Baerg:
Thank you for your email of January 16, 2009 regarding management of British Columbia’s steelhead fishery. I apologize for the delay in responding.

There is no doubt that steelhead face many challenges, and as someone who was born and raised in BC, I share your concern for this magnificent species. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for steelhead management and is implementing a number of initiatives with our partners and stakeholders to restore habitat, rebuild populations where numbers are depressed, and improve the management regime to maintain the quality angling experience for this species. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the Living Rivers Trust Fund (which was a commitment of Premier Campbell), have invested millions of dollars in priority steelhead projects throughout the province and they will be continuing to do so in 2009.

Recreational fishing represents a considerable economic force in British Columbia (BC). The non-tidal fishery generates over $450 million in economic activity and the BC Government collects approximately $13 million in revenue from the sale of non-tidal fishing licenses and conservation stamps. Of this, roughly 25 percent is directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for investment back into the resource and 54 percent is directed to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC who maintains and operates the province’s hatcheries and stocking programs. The remaining 21 percent comes to the government which in turn supports the ministry fisheries program and its operations. Since 2002, the BC Government has also directed over $20 million to the Living Rivers Trust Foundation. This has been invested in a number of fish recovery and restoration programs including the Greater Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan, the Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program (managed by the Pacific Salmon Foundation) and development of steelhead stock assessment strategies in the Skeena watershed.

The Ministry of Environment has dedicated staff that are responsible for the management of all freshwater fish in the province (which includes steelhead). To ensure conservation objectives are achieved and sustainable fishing opportunities are maintained, the ministry also relies on our partners and stakeholders for assistance.

Climate change is also known to be a major factor affecting various fish species. This is one reason why the BC Government has developed North America’s most comprehensive plan to fight climate. Despite opposition from certain parties, we have initiated a revenue neutral tax on carbon emissions (to put a price on pollution that contributes to climate change) and legislation to put a “cap” on large industrial emitters.

I appreciate your concern for the sport fishery in BC in general and steelhead in particular. Ministry of Environment staff share your passion for this species of fish and are working with great commitment to ensure the long term sustainability of the species and the recreational fisheries they support. While there is much more to do for steelhead, I am confident that with the help of our partners and stakeholders we can continue to make a difference for this iconic fish species.

Thank you again for writing and expressing your concern for steelhead in BC.

Sincerely,
“Original Signed By”
Barry Penner
Minister

[knotnot]

I received the same response.
Letters then camo n balaclavas.

[phearless]

" Look the other way"

[knotnot]

I sent email to the federal folks too and received nothing yet.
Probably should have been on paper.
I know if you write a letter to a 'city mayor and council' they must be read at council meetings, and a response is given if asked for.
So is the same true for the legislature and parliament ?

knotnot

[tbar24]

i got that email to and the one thing that is intersting to me is that they are only putting 25% of it back into conserving the habitats, isn't that wat were paying for? shouldnt atleast 50% go back into it? maybe not but thats what i think, i see how they break it down but still like even for the tidal licence if you buy a salmon sticker its called like a conservation sticker now(or somethin along that line) so shouldn't it be used to conserve