VANCOUVER – Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to remind the public that off-roading activities, such as driving ATVs or motor bikes and mountain biking, have the potential to damage fish habitat. The Department is asking off-road users to avoid driving through or very near streams. In many areas throughout the province, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the provincial government, stakeholders and stewardship groups have worked to rebuild stream areas. A significant amount of volunteer time and effort, as well as funds, have gone into restoring fish habitat and wildlife reserves across B.C. Healthy streams are crucial to fish and should be treated with respect and care. Many streams and rivers throughout B.C. provide living, feeding and spawning areas for fish, including salmon and trout. A single stream may appear insignificant as a producer of wild fish, but when combined with the thousands of other small streams in B.C., streams account for a large amount of fish production. Off-roading activity in or near streams may damage fish habitat, including gravel beds containing incubating salmon eggs and important streamside vegetation. These activities can also erode stream banks and increase sediment in the stream. Introducing sediment into streams can harm fish gills, smother fish eggs and the food sources for fish. Activities that harm fish habitat, kill fish or fish eggs and impair water quality in streams (by depositing sediment or other substances) may result in investigations and charges under the Fisheries Act, Criminal Code or B.C. Wildlife Act. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is concerned with fish and fish habitat and asks for assistance from the general public in complying with the Fisheries Act and Regulations to protect streams and our resources. Signage may be posted near habitat restoration areas. Please respect these areas and obey the signs. - 30 -
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