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Letter to the Minister of WLAP
- Thompson River Recovery Plan
Tyler Kushnir
Honourable Bill Barasoff,
Minister of WLAP
The Thompson River Steelhead is a world
famous icon of British Columbia. People come from around
the world to challenge these magnificent fish. That
this symbol of BC sport fishing is in grave danger is
beyond question. This past November your Ministry was
about to take the unprecedented step of a total closure
of fishing on the Thompson River. This was due to the
predictions that only 800 fish were expected to return.
Historically the Thompson is thought to have supported
some 10,000 spawners. Only intense political pressure
and a few late arriving fish kept the closure from being
implemented.
The Steelhead Society of BC is very
concerned with the future of Thompson River steelhead.
The problems of the Thompson are varied and difficult
to deal with: from rearing habitat issues in the Nicola
and Deadman Valleys, to commercial and native interception
in the Fraser - not to mention the apparent apathy of
the DFO to steelhead. Furthermore, ocean survival issues
complicate the situation. To this end the SSBC wants
to see the creation and implementation of a full-scale
recovery plan for Thompson River steelhead.
The Provincial Government needs to take
the lead in this process. The Thompson and its steelhead
bring worldwide fame to British Columbia. The failure
to take decisive action at this time could mean the
end of one of British Columbia’s great symbols.
We need to act now.
Yours sincerely,
Tyler Kushnir
Director Steelhead Society of British Columbia.
Cc. Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier
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for the SSBC letter writing guide
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