大象传媒

An iconic fish among British Columbia anglers could be facing an even more uncertain future than previously thought, according to a new study from 大象传媒 researchers.

Steelhead have faced growing threats over recent years leading to conservation concerns.

B.C. is home to more than 400 steelhead-bearing streams, but very few of these are actively monitored.

Often the only available information comes from surveys of anglers regarding the number of steelhead that they catch and release. However, according to the new study, these data may not accurately reflect the health and status of steelhead.

The , published in the journal Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, analyzed catch data from steelhead anglers in 14 streams across B.C.

Researchers found that catch rates may stay high even as steelhead populations decline, creating a dangerous illusion of plenty. This phenomenon is known as hyperstability.

鈥淥ur results suggest that individual catch rate may not be a reliable indicator of changes in steelhead populations,鈥� says Julie Charbonneau, the study's lead author and researcher with the Earth to Ocean Research Group at 大象传媒.

Read full story on 大象传媒 News.