Sport fishing ban expands to Middle Shuswap River
More fishing restrictions as the province continues to deal with drought and low water levels
The province just announced it is suspending sport fishing in Middle Shuswap River due to warm temperatures and low water levels.
The ban is effective immediately and will run through September 30th for all angling downstream from Shuswap Falls to Mable Lake.
The fishing ban is meant to protect fish stocks that have become vulnerable due to the ongoing high water temperatures and low water levels affecting the province.
This latest ban follows the province's suspension of sport fishing in streams and rivers throughout most of B.C's South Coast as well as similar bans on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
These fishing restrictions followed calls from conservationists, First Nations and angling associations that had previously asked for fishing bans as a preemptive measure to protect trout, steelhead and salmon in the waters.
Angling bans are enabled through British Columbia's Sport Fishing Regulations of the federal Fisheries Act.
As of now, fisheries biologists are continuing to monitor approximately 40 other key angling streams throughout the province and additional closures are possible in the coming weeks.