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"Any conscientious fisherman can live without killing a wild steelhead. There are enough hatchery fish out there to fill a dinner place. "
(Stephen Kyle, Ashland Tidings Letters)

Why Do We Need to Help?

Wild steelhead runs across their native range have been steadily declining over the last few decades. The Northwest experienced the worst summer Steelhead returns on record. We are in need of increased monitoring of steelhead runs to further understand how they are impacted in their native regions. In the meantime, a catch and release policy for steelhead will help ensure we don't trade short-term opportunity for the long-term health of our wild steelhead.

Theory of Action

Positive change for Steelhead occurs:

  • When communities support science-based policies and act strategically by focusing their support toward key decision makers

  • Communities support good policies and act strategically when local advocates work in their communities as effective champions for Steelhead by educating and activating their local communities

  • Local advocates are effective champions for Steelhead in their communities when they are empowered and inspired with the best available scientific information, communications tools and expertise, grassroots organizing training, policy information, strategic planning resources and the support and experience of local advocate communities to identify and address challenges facing Steelhead.

  • Steelhead Lawyers want to create positive change for Steelhead when we empower, inspire and grow our network of advocates by providing them with the information, tools, training and community resources they need to be effective local advocates.

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