Hooton's argument has merit only if the BC wild steelhead release regulations are somehow causing the spawning escapement to not be achieved. Since the affected stock are Skeena summer steelhead, it's possible that very high catch rates along with incidental mortality and high summer water temperatures, recreational fishing is adversely affecting the effective spawning escapement. The human factors having an undeniable impact to the steelhead escapement are the native in river gillnet fishery and the lower Skeena and approach marine waters commercial salmon fisheries. As an equal opportunity critic I want to place blame where it belongs.

Outside of tributary stream closures, it's hard to provide fishing closure sanctuary to winter steelhead in mainstems because they spawn from just upstream of tidal influence to the headwaters.