Skeena Quality Waters Strategy

Working Group Recommendations Now Available

The Recommendations of the Working Groups for the Skeena Quality Waters Strategy Angling Management Plans are now posted for downloading:

» Working Group Recommendations [PDF 351KB]

The Ministry of Environment is expected to meet with the Working Groups and respond to the recommendations in mid-November 2009. The ministry response will be posted on this website after the November meeting of the Working Groups. If you wish to receive an email notice when the ministry’s response is posted,
let us know.

Working Groups

Changes to Working Groups

During the fall consultation period, input was received that the QWS process could be improved by additional representation from the business community. The ministry and the Regional Committee reviewed these concerns. After much discussion, it was decided to modify the Working Group structure to include representation from the business and tourism sectors. Concerns were raised from the Regional Committee of the need to maintain resident priority in the process and Working Group recommendations. The revised composition of the Working Groups included:

• Five resident anglers (alternates will become standing members)
• Three angling guides
• One business representative
• One tourism representative
• One ministry coordinator

The Working Groups have been meeting over the past two months to develop their recommendations using the information from the Phase II Consultation Report.

The Working Group meeting schedule was as follows:

All Working Groups	Smithers	May 30 - 31
West Working Group	Terrace	June 13 - 14
Central and East Working Groups	Smithers	June 20 - 21
All Working Groups	Smithers	June 27 - 28

Working Group Composition: June 2009

These are the present Working Group members as appointed by the Regional Committee.

EAST WORKING GROUP

[Waters: Babine, Bulkley, Morice]

Tom Espersen, resident angler
Michael Hurwitz, resident angler
Tom Jones, resident angler
Vacant, resident angler
Jessea Grice, resident angler
Bob Hull, angling guide
Brian Schneider, angling guide
Richard Pow, angling guide
Keith Douglas, angling guide (alternate)
Alex Bussman, business
Gladys Atrill, tourism
Jeff Lough, MOE Coordinator
Facilitator: Dorli Duffy, Alan Dolan & Associates

CENTRAL WORKING GROUP

[Waters: Kispiox, Kitseguecla, Kitwanga, Skeena IV (upstream from
Kitwanga Bridge), Suskwa]

Doug Eftoda, resident angler
Don Intermela, resident angler
Peter Woloshyn, resident angler
Marvin Atchison, resident angler
Vacant, resident angler
Gene Allen, angling guide
Jaap Kalkman, angling guide
Todd Stockner, angling guide
Jason Wiley, angling guide (alternate)
David Larson, business
Ursula Heuberger, tourism
Dean Peard, MOE Coordinator
Facilitator: Alan Dolan, Alan Dolan & Associates

WEST WORKING GROUP

[Waters: Kalum, Lakelse, Skeena IV (downstream from Kitwanga Bridge),
Zymoetz I, Zymoetz II]

Jason Ouellet, resident angler
Chris Culp, resident angler
Jim Culp, resident angler
Rob Brown, resident angler
Brian Kean, resident angler
Dan Daigle, angling guide
Dustin Kovacvish, angling guide
Andrew Rushton, angling guide
Randy Dozzi, angling guide (alternate)
Glenn Kelly, business
Luke Holden, tourism
Dana Atagi, MOE Coordinator
Facilitator: Sandra Bicego, Alan Dolan & Associates

Paddy Hirshfield, Quality Waters Biologist (Alternate MOE Coordinator)

Striking a Balance

Local Working Groups used the following framework:

Vision

Steelhead fishing in the Skeena watershed will provide opportunities for a world-class angling experience in balance with the needs of resident anglers, angling guides and local businesses.

Guiding Principles

Skeena watershed Angling Management Plans must create a desirable angling experience that is regarded as world-class maintain a range of angling opportunities recognize the economic value of this public resource recognize the role of steelhead angling in local business interests recognize the priority and interests of B.C. resident anglers wherever angling opportunities become oversubscribed

Scope

Angling Management Plans will focus on angler use. They will complement, but not duplicate or revisit, work of other government agencies on: commercial fishing aboriginal fishing rights uses of land adjacent to the waters conservation goals for steelhead and other species mode of transport used to access fishing opportunities management of fishing methods (fly versus gear, etc.)

Challenges

Working Group members will face many challenges. Anglers vary widely in their definitions of a high quality fishing experience, and those definitions are coloured by individual experience and preconceptions about steelhead fishing in the Skeena watershed. Every decision will require careful consideration of implications for angling opportunity, cost and enforcement. Available data about angler use will require critical evaluation.