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Though a government official insists no decisions on the future of the Lower Mainland’s lone Ministry of Environment (MOE) fisheries biologist have been made, local steelhead advocates say they fear the worst: That a steelhead recovery effort already on life support is about to suffer yet another setback.
For the past few years, Greg Wilson has been the only MOE-employed fisheries biologist in Region II, which covers the area from Tsawwassen to Boston Bar, and his primary focus has been the recovery of steelhead stocks — most especially in the Cheakamus River system, which suffered a serious blow with the 2005 CN Rail toxic soda spill.
Dave Brown, a Whistlerite and member of both the Squamish to Lillooet Sportfish Advisory Committee and South Coast Steelhead Coalition boards, on Friday (Sept. 11) said he has it on good information that Wilson’s job will likely be affected — adversely, in Brown’s view — by the B.C. government’s recent $46 million cut to the MOE budget.
Even if Wilson has his duties “re-prioritized,” Brown feels it’ll be to the detriment of fisheries conservation efforts, most especially the effort to boost the valuable steelhead sport fishery.
“I know Greg isn’t losing his job or anything,” Brown said, adding that he's had strong indications "that his work may be in different areas other than on steelhead, and that there’ve been some substantial budget cuts that may limit his ability to be out in the field.
“Essentially, from what I understand, they may be looking at how they can administer those cuts and it’s looking like the impact on steelhead is going to be significant.
“I feel sorry for (MOE) to be dealt this blow, but I’m hoping that Premier Campbell and the finance minister (Colin Hansen) will recognize that they’ve made a mistake here and bring the funding back to previous levels, because steelhead are important to the region.”
Rod Clapton, chair of the South Coast Steelhead Coalition and president of the B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers, said in a statement issued to The Question on Monday (Sept. 14) that he’s had strong indications that the cuts will mean a significant change in the ministry’s priorities. He said the two groups have “grave concerns” about any such moves.
“This despite the fact most stocks are depleted to the point of extreme conservation concern,” Clapton wrote. “Effectively, MOE will be abdicating their responsibility to protect steelhead now and for future generations.
“Premier Campbell, prior to the last election, said B.C. would have ‘the best-managed fisheries in North America, bar none.’ Another hollow promise, as budget cuts have decimated the fisheries branch. Perhaps it’s time to turn over management of steelhead to the Feds. The survival of a precious B.C. icon is at stake.”
An MOE spokesman who did not wish to be named said that while programs and priorities are under review, no decisions on potential cuts or programming changes have been made. So far, he said, no layoffs have taken place.
“There have been discussions within the ministry about a proposed realignment… the focus of this person has been on the CN Rail Cheakamus recovery efforts and recovery of the steelhead. The priorities for that position may change,” he said on Thursday (Sept. 10).
“There may be other changes within the ministry due to shifting priorities and this is just one of many positions that can shift around and change.”
Brown said that as recently as last fall, he attended a meeting with something like 12 MLAs as well as MOE staff, who reiterated their support for the steelhead recovery effort. But that appears to have changed, he said.
“It seems there’s no desire to effectively manage fisheries in our province. It’s tough right now and everybody’s getting cut, but steelhead management in this region was already bare bones. This system is in crisis and with the forthcoming budget, it’s going to be even worse.
“Locally, we’re coming up way behind on steelhead. It’s an extreme concern, but the message we’re getting is that it’s not a priority at all.”
