TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – November 14, 2025

I own a brand new flying fishing rod that is still in its original case and has never touched a lake or river, nor has it ever been paired with a reel or flexed by a fish on the end of my line. While attending the BC Freshwater Fishing Tourism Symposium (BCFFTS) this week at Lac La Jeune Resort, I was reminded that when I step away from fulltime employment, I need to actually fish or cut bait once and for all.

In BC alone, there are some 20,000 lakes and 750,000 kilometres of streams to choose from, or in the case of saltwater fishing, tens of thousands of kilometres of coastline to cast a line.

Yet even though our vast province is world renowned as a mecca for both freshwater and tidal water recreational fishing, the sector itself is largely overlooked by residents and even various levels of government for its social, cultural and environmental contributions, the latter of which I was inspired by while listening to passionate experts at the meeting.

I learned about the work of several organizations that are not only doing incredible things to bolster recreational fishing, but more importantly, helping to regenerate the lakes and rivers that have been damaged or impacted by climate change, land development, harvesting of natural resources, and other factors. Unfortunately, these efforts are largely unrecognized, yet more of us should be aware given how vital these sustainability initiatives are to BC’s entire eco-system.

Take for example the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) which contributed some $9.4 million to 163 fish, wildlife and conservation stewardship projects this year, partly to educate students and engage volunteers, but mostly to acquire and maintain habitat. Evidence of their efforts can be found in every region of BC. In fact, since 1981, HCTF has awarded $242 million to over 4,000 projects in the context of environmental stewardship.

Then there’s the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) whose mandate is to support salmon populations and habitats to be resistant to future degradation or decline, restore habitat and populations, and transform systems to redefine the landscape for salmon recovery and resilience. PSF has spent close to $1 million on 21 projects so far in 2025 to support salmon migration, mitigate the impact of low water flow caused by drought, improve spawning habitat, and more. They also actively monitor and report on salmon stocks, noting that while Fraser River sockeye runs were three times the forecast this year, two-thirds of the entire salmon population within many regions is still below the long-term average.

Last but not least, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC owns and operates six major fish hatcheries, conducts and funds research, conservation and education programs, teaches people how to fish and promotes fishing, stocks close to 800 lakes, and makes fishing more accessible by investing in boat launches, road access improvement, trails and amenities, as well as docks including new infrastructure on five lakes in 2024 alone.

At the symposium, I also took note of the exceptional work being done by Fishing Tourism BC and the Sport Fishing Institute of BC, not only in the areas of policy and advocacy, but also in promoting the sector to key markets stateside and overseas.

If you’re not into fishing, you may be asking the question “why should I care?” Aside from the aforementioned benefits (cultural, social, environmental), recreational fishing is a key component of tourism in every region of British Columbia and contributes an estimated $2.75 billion in economic impact annually. Entire communities depend on the sector for direct and indirect jobs that support families and sustain businesses.

All the more reason I felt compelled to remind you of the outstanding work being done by the organizations I mentioned, as well as countless others, that help to secure the long-term viability of recreational fishing in this province. After all, if one can’t get enthused about fishing after being around guides, resort owners, gear retailers, biologists, sector associations, and others passionate about this sector, you don’t have a pulse.

Sadly, my beautiful, unused, graphite fishing pole has waited patiently for 33 years to see a river or lake. The Province issues approximately three-quarters of a million tidal and freshwater fishing licenses annually, 81% of which are allotted to BC residents. I plan to be one of them when the season opens next year and finally cast a line with my new fishing rod to catch (& release) some fish.

Walt Judas

CEO, TIABC