Conservation

Back in the 1990s, salmon and steelhead returning to the Columbia River Basin averaged just over one million fish per year, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. That includes all five species of Pacific salmon, and steelhead. The current 10-year rolling average is 2.3 million fish per year, which is certainly better than almost 30 years ago, but still...

The Big Hole River, in southwest Montana, has been at the forefront of conservation efforts for the past few years due to its rapidly-declining trout population. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP), scientists from Montana State University, and concerned guides and outfitters have worked together to study the Big Hole and offer potential solutions for...

Bycatch—when one species of fish is caught by boats fishing for another species—is often cited as a contributing factor to salmon declines, especially in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The trawling fleets that fish for pollock in the Bering Sea are allowed a certain number of fish per year as acceptable bycatch; for example, if too many king salmon...

In a startling piece over at Hatch Magazine, Chris Hunt details a new study that claims brown trout could disappear from Britain by 2080. At the heart of the study is a model, compiled by scientists, that uses temperature data from the past five years to predict what future temperatures will be. According to this model, "the average daytime water...

Last year, MidCurrent reported on a proposed mine on a tributary of Montana's famed Smith River. The decision to issue that permit was challenged in a case before the Montana Supreme Court, which just issued what is likely a final ruling (at the state level) in this case. According to Amanda Eggert with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the Montana Supreme...

Fishing slams are an interesting concoction that offer a legitimate challenge for those looking for a new challenge. In the most general sense, a fishing slam is when an angler catches two or more species of fish in a day. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognizes a few different types of slams, including the Fantasy Slam (five species in a...

MidCurrent has recently reported on a few of the challenges facing wild salmon and steelhead across the world. Hatchery-raised salmon and steelhead pose a serious threat to wild fish, but it's not always clear why, even to those who consider themselves well-versed in conservation. This recent article in Fly Fisherman Magazine can help alleviate some of...

Four years ago, a group of sixteen kids filed a lawsuit against the state of Montana, alleging the state has violated its constitution by prioritizing fossil fuel development over the health and safety of Montana residents. According to Hatch Magazine, that case made it all the way to the Montana Supreme Court, where the justices ruled in favor of the...

I've had the pleasure of documenting many cutthroat restoration efforts over the past decade, mostly in Utah, where I grew up. But this recent story from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is one of the most interesting cutthroat conservation tales I've ever heard. Rachel Gonzales wrote the story for Colorado Outdoors, and I highly recommend you read the...

In reporting on recent legislation passed by the United State Congress, Kirk Deeter, over at Fly Lab, questions whether this new bill is perhaps the biggest environmental win ever for trout anglers. Deeter makes this claim about the recently-passed Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hard Rock Mines Act, which was approved in "the House by voice vote...