ROUNDTABLE REPORT—FEBRUARY, 2009
by Eric Carlisle
Since November, 2008, there have been several positive developments for steelhead. First, the Steelhead Summit on November 29 saw nine Liberal MLAs receive an education on the plight of steelhead. At this meeting, which was held at BCIT, the MLAs heard reports from the steelhead biologist in each provincial region which is home to steelhead and from a stakeholder from each region. This event was chaired by Steelhead Caucus Chair Ralph Sultan and was organized by Sultan and South Coast Steelhead Coalition Chair (and BC Federation of Drift Fishers President) Rod Clapton. Perhaps the most telling fact about the steelhead situation was the fact that the five MoE staff who look after steelhead—the steelhead biologists, one from each region which has steelhead—were present. At one time, individual regions had at least five biologists and technicians whose work involved steelhead. The most disappointing moment came when Environment Minister Barry Penner said there was no more money available for steelhead work. But at least, the nine MLAs who attended were educated about the biological, economic and social aspects of the steelhead situation.
Premier Gordon Campbell has been made aware of the steelhead situation, and he instructed Environment Minister Penner to reply on his behalf to a letter written to Campbell by SCSC Chair Rod Clapton. Clapton has learned that several lodge owners have been pressuring Premier Campbell to help steelhead.
Most encouraging is the news that Clapton and Al Lill from BCCF will be making a presentation to the entire government caucus on March 11. During this presentation, Clapton and Lill will further educate the MLAs about steelhead and will propose two steelhead restoration projects for each region. Again, the problem will be to convince the government MLAs to find some money for steelhead restoration work. The recent budget made further cuts to the Ministry of Environment, so finding money will be difficult. No doubt a report on this meeting will be prepared and distributed, and I will forward this report to SEHAB members. Clapton will call a meeting of the SCSC later in March.
A further development re steelhead was the February 1 letter writing campaign undertaken by the Steelhead Society of B.C. A form letter was circulated to SSBC members and on various angling and conservation websites. People were asked to write all the MLAs on February 1 and express their concerns about declining steelhead runs. In a preamble, the Society asked people to write their own letters rather than simply send the form letter. An estimated 80-100 letters were sent. My letter received 11 automatic replies and one personal reply, all of which thanked me for sending the letter. This past week, I received a personal reply from MLA Linda Reid, and I circulated this reply to SEHAB members. Jack Minard then circulated an almost identical reply which he received from an assistant to MLA Ron Cantelon. Hopefully, each MLA or assistant who sent this canned reply at least took the time to discuss steelhead issues and became aware of the severely reduced returns of steelhead to many rivers. If nothing else, the Society’s letter writing campaign should have made the politicians more aware of steelhead and the fact that people who care about steelhead are voters.