The Province has closed another large section of Seymour River and its tributaries to sports fishing, effectively shutting down the entire river in support of steelhead conservation.

The latest closure extends from the slide area, approximately 400 metres downstream of the old “Twin Bridges” site, to the top of Pool 91, located immediately downstream of the Pipeline Bridge. There will be no fishing allowed on this section of the river until at least March 31, 2017.

A December 2014, landslide has cut steelhead and other salmon off from spawning and rearing habitats in the upper portions of the river. In January, the Province shut down angling on the Seymour from the top of Pool 91 downstream to the tidal boundary, through to Jan. 31, 2017.

The actions mirror Fisheries and Oceans Canada closure on salmon fishing on the river.

The Province is working with stakeholders on a slide mitigation plan, and expects to have a fish fence in place in the lower Seymour River by the end of the year. The fence will intercept returning adult steelhead and salmon, which will then be moved upstream of the slide by Provincial staff.

Quick Facts:

• Under the federal Fisheries Act, the Province is responsible for non-salmon freshwater fisheries, including sea-run steelhead, cutthroat and Dolly Varden.
• The federal government is responsible for commercial and recreational fisheries in tidal waters, and salmon fisheries in non-tidal waters.

Learn More:

See a map of the closure area at: https://www.flickr.com/gp/bcgovphotos/7b8070