Letters
February 26, 2004 |
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The Steelhead Society calls
on premier Gordon Campbell to make
wild steelhead the Provincial fish
February 26, 2004
Premier Gordon Campbell
Room 156, West Annex,
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, B.C.
V8V1X4
Dear Premier Campbell
Re: Designation of Steelhead as
an Official Emblem of British Columbia (Provincial Fish)
The Steelhead Society of B.C. asks the
government to give serious consideration to designating
the wild steelhead (Oncorhynhus mykiss) as B.C.’s
provincial fish for the following reasons:
- B.C. has a provincial flower
(Pacific dogwood, designated in 1956), a provincial
gemstone (jade, designated in 1968), a provincial
bird (Steller’s jay, designated in 1987),
and a provincial tree (Western red cedar, designated
in 1988). However, despite the cultural significance
of fish to British Columbia, a provincial fish has
not been designated as an official emblem of the
province;
- Wild steelhead (and their land-locked equivalent,
rainbow trout) are distributed throughout most of
B.C. B.C. is the only province in Canada with native,
wild steelhead populations. These populations are
the largest remaining in North America. The world
records for the largest steelhead caught in fresh-water,
and the largest steelhead caught by fly fishing,
are both from British Columbia;
- B.C. is world famous for its unequaled wild steelhead
sport fisheries, which are an economically and culturally
priceless part of our heritage. Designation of wild
steelhead as our provincial fish would add to these
values. |
We understand you will be addressing
the World Fisheries Congress in Vancouver, May 2–6,
2004. This would be a perfect opportunity to announce
to the world that the wild steelhead is our newest official
emblem.
We look forward to your response.
Yours truly
Scott Baker-McGarva
President,
Steelhead Society of B.C.
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