In British Columbia’s fishing culture, steelhead represent the wild heart of our province. But that heart is stopping. On November 19th, Provincial Stock Assessment Biologist Robert Bison released the only status update for the 2025/26 return of Thompson River Steelhead. It estimated the total population to be only 19 fish. This follows a disappointing return to the Skeena where between ten and fifty per cent of returning steelhead are killed annually in Alaskan commercial fisheries.
As steelhead stocks collapse, a dangerous misconception persists: that B.C., not Ottawa is responsible. While the Province of British Columbia has jurisdiction over freshwater, and must do a far better job of caring for and advocating for these fish, Ottawa holds the keys to steelhead survival. To understand why, we must look at what is actually killing these fish.
Steelhead are a migratory ocean-going rainbow trout, which makes them a salmonid and subject to management under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy. Is it a big surprise then that the single largest source of adult mortality is incidental bycatch in commercial fisheries? These fisheries are either managed directly by DFO; or through the Pacific Salmon Treaty, to which Canada is a signatory. If a steelhead dies in a net before it reaches its home river, that’s federal jurisdiction.
Another source of mortality—and a severe limiting factor in wild Vancouver Island rivers like the Gold and Nimpkish is predation by seals and sea lions. These two rivers are insulated from the worst of the fishing pressure, have sufficient cold water flows, as well as imperfect but available habitat, yet are ghost towns despite years of favourable ocean conditions conducive to steelhead survival. Pinnipeds, which swim unchallenged into these rivers to clean adults out of the deep pools where they congregate, and wait in the estuaries as the juvenile phase moves out to sea.The degree to which predation impacts returning Interior Fraser Steelhead is unknown, however assessing and controlling for these factors is entirely a federal management responsibility.
While the Province’s failure to produce a steelhead management plan is inexcusable, and its mismanagement of habitat has undeniably harmed steelhead and lowered productivity, federal policies, or lack-thereof have pushed steelhead into crisis. Currently, the Province can restrict angling, close rivers, and enforce existing regulations, but they cannot unilaterally change federal regulations that might lower angler-induced mortality—such as gear restrictions—without permission. Further, restoring habitat—while necessary—is only a solution if enough fish can actually survive the gauntlet of nets and predators to use it. Right now, that’s not happening.
When management measures fail, the fail-safe is supposed to be the Species at Risk Act. It is the duty of the federal government to list steelhead as endangered when science demands it. Yet, DFO lacks the political courage to take this step, fearing indeterminate economic ripple effects more than the backlash should we lose this revered and magical fish. Anglers and advocates need to change this calculus.
Specific and measurable actions that hold DFO accountable are urgently needed. Like a new Steelhead Chapter in the upcoming Pacific Salmon Treaty to protect steelhead from the commercial fisheries which overlap so much of their range. And, more support for selective in-river fisheries and predator control to ensure steelhead have a chance once they hit the freshwater.
Yes, anglers and the Province have essential and constructive roles to play, but the plan to stop the decline of steelhead must start in Ottawa.