From the Wild Steelhead Coalition –
All summer we’ve been hearing horrifying reports about the historically low return of wild and hatchery steelhead in the Columbia and Snake. These scary low numbers even spooked normally imprudent fish managers into exercising some precaution and restricitng angler impact on these threatened runs. But now that the run forecast has been slightly upgraded from almost the worst ever to the worst in 40 years, Idaho is responding by saying, “Let’s go bonk some fish!”
Right now the Idaho Fish and Game Commission is entertaining a proposal to open a steelhead harvest fishery in the Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater River drainages. Under normal circumstances, we believe that catch and keep for hatchery steelhead is the proper management tool. However, these are not normal circumstances, and we cannot afford the devastating impact transitioning this fishery from catch and release to catch and keep would have on wild steelhead.
Opening these drainages for harvest will no doubt increase angling pressure, which in turn will lead to more wild B-run fish being caught. Some estimates predict that angler interaction with these wild fish could include almost the entire run. Since this year’s reopening proposal does not restrict barbs, bait, and wild fish out of water, these interactions could have a severe impact on wild fish such as reduced fecundity and increased mortality. These fish will have already migrated 600 – 800 miles through eight dams. The last thing they need is to be held out of water for 30 seconds while anglers remove barbed hooks and pose for hero shots.
The returning wild and hatchery steelhead numbers are the lowest since 1979. We already know that not enough wild B-run steelhead have been replacing themselves to maintain the current population numbers, so it is unconscionable to dramatically increase angling pressure and fail to require responsible angling practices.
Please take a minute to send a letter to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission letting them know that you oppose their proposal to open a steelhead harvest fishery in the Snake, Salmon, and Clearwater River drainages.
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