The Province is closing all angling on the Thompson River below Kamloops Lake, and on portions of the Fraser River, in response to low Steelhead returns.
The closure will be in effect from October 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019.
Angling will be closed on the Thompson River downstream from signs at the Kamloops Lake outlet to the confluence with the Fraser River.
Angling on the Fraser River will be closed from the Highway 99 Bridge at Lillooet downstream to BC Hydro’s tail race outflow channel, and from the confluence with the Thompson River downstream to the Canadian National Railway bridge.
The Province recently announced that the Steelhead fishery on the Thompson River would be closed this year due to anticipated low returns of stock.
In February 2018, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) undertook an emergency assessment of Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead. Both populations are being considered for listing as endangered.
COSEWIC recommended an emergency listing order under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Even though catch-and-release opportunities account for a very small percentage of annual Steelhead mortality, in order to support COSEWICs recommendations, this closure will remove remaining Steelhead recreational catch-and-release opportunities and associated mortalities.
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