Limit fishing leader length
Petitioners ask for a 1‑metre maximum leader and more enforcement on the Chilliwack/Vedder River to protect wild salmon. The government responds that leader length isn't yet federally regulable and freshwater licence changes are provincial.
Why we would sign this petition
- Limits long leaders shown to reduce foul‑hooking, lowering stress, injury and unintended mortality among wild salmon.
- A simple, low‑cost regulatory change that could improve fish welfare and support long‑term conservation goals.
- Increased enforcement would boost compliance, river safety and the fishery's reputation if effectively implemented.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Federal regulations currently cannot prescribe leader length in BC freshwater; implementing the change requires regulatory amendments or provincial action.
- Boosting enforcement demands staff, funding and logistics; effectiveness depends on sustained resources and monitoring.
- A leader‑length rule may not solve overcrowding, poor handling or other drivers of mortality and could need complementary measures.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Minister of Fisheries The Chilliwack/Vedder River is one of British Columbia’s most popular salmon fisheries, supporting recreation, tourism, and local community identity; In recent years, heavy angler pressure has led to overcrowding, conflict, and the widespread use of excessively long leaders—the fishing line between the hook and the weight—which often results in salmon being unintentionally snagged or foul-hooked; These methods target fish that are not actively biting, causing stress, injury, and mortality among already threatened wild salmon; Combined with high angler density, poor fish handling, and limited enforcement, these practices have created an unsustainable fishery and a decline in river safety, quality, and reputation; DFO has previously implemented successful conservation measures, such as the barbless-hook rule, which improved fish welfare without major enforcement burden; DFO enforcement presence on the Chilliwack/Vedder River is limited, and violations such as retaining foul-hooked fish or exceeding catch limits are frequently observed without consequence; Research from Washington State salmon fisheries shows that limiting leader length to approximately 1 metre (3 feet) greatly reduces foul-hooking and promotes ethical angling; and A leader-length restriction for the Chilliwack/Vedder River would be a simple, low-cost measure to protect wild salmon and support DFO’s long-term conservation goals. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Fisheries to implement a maximum leader length of approximately one metre (three feet) for sport fishing on the Chilliwack/Vedder River, to increase enforcement monitoring to ensure compliance and to protect wild salmon for future generations.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Fisheries Signed by Ernie Klassen Section 6 of the Fishing General Regulations authorizes a Regional Director General of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to vary elements of fisheries such as close time, fishing quota, limit on the size or weight of fish or fishing gear or equipment which is fixed in regulation. Currently, leader length is not a gear type that is fixed in the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations and thus cannot be prescribed or varied to limit its length via regulation (unlike barbed hooks that are fixed in regulations and can be varied to only permit barbless hooks). As part of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Red Tape Reduction efforts, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working to place a wide variety of new gear types into the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, to support the Department’s ability to manage specific gear types in the future and to create new, modern regulatory tools that support adaptative and flexible management. Work to amend the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations is ongoing and Fisheries and Oceans Canada has engaged with the Sport Fish Advisory Board, the Province of British Columbia, and First Nations since 2023. This work includes defining new fishing gear types and methods—including leader length. While the federal government is responsible for the management of recreational salmon fishing in Province of British Columbia, both the federal and provincial governments are involved in licensing anglers. The split between the two is based on “tidal” and “non-tidal” waters. Tidal licences are issued by the federal government; non-tidal licences are issued by the Province. The line between tidal and non-tidal waters, for the Fraser River, is drawn at the downstream side of the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge at Mission, Province of British Columbia. While the regulations are completed, a potential tool to implement a leader length restriction in the interim is a Condition of Licence. Based on the area cited, the Chilliwack and Vedder River, Fisheries and Oceans Canada cannot implement a licence condition on the British Columbia Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licence, as this area—a non-tidal water—is licensed by the Province of British Columbia under a British Columbia Freshwater Fishing Licence. Accordingly, a condition could only be implemented by the Province of British Columbia. Recreational fishers would need to make a request to the Province of British Columbia for consideration of a new condition of licence on the British Columbia Freshwater Fishing Licence, which typically occurs through British Columbia’s Provincial Angling Advisory Team. If the Province was supportive of a new condition of licence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada would be required to conduct consultation through the Integrated Fisheries Management Planning process on new salmon fishing opportunities. Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fishery Officers regularly patrol non-tidal waters in the lower mainland and more so at the height of the various fisheries. Fishery Officers employ a number of methods to detect and investigate illegal fishing activity. Should the public observe questionable fishing activities they should contact the Observe Record Report line at 1-800-465-4336. Alternatively, concerns can be reported online at Observe, Record, Report.