The Province is helping protect spawning salmon by closing parts of the Somass and Stamp Rivers to all fishing.

Both rivers are near Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island.

The Somass River closure extends from the tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam, upstream approximately one kilometre to boundary signs near the south end of Collins Farm across to the gravel pit. The Stamp River closures include a section from the boundary sign near the southwestern shore of the inlet to Robertson Creek hatchery lagoon to a boundary sign near the southeastern shore of the outlet of the lagoon. The Province has set up signs to mark the closure areas.

Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff have shut down salmon fishing on the two rivers because of an imbalance in the sex ratio of spawning Chinook – males outnumber females 10 to 1. The provincial closure will help the salmon by keeping anglers out of spawning areas.

The federal government is responsible for salmon fishing on the Pacific coast, both in salt and fresh water. The Province is responsible for all freshwater angling, including sea-run steelhead, cutthroat and Dolly Varden.

The closures begin on Nov. 6, 2015, and will be in in effect until Nov. 15, 2015.