Makes sense from a harvest perspective if your objective is to increase resident populations. Where the two forms overlap, the regulations should be sufficient to allow for meeting the management objectives of both forms. Juvenile steelhead would benefit from the same fishing regulations that protect resident rainbows, so it may make sense to push for that now. Where they don't overlap, populations can be managed a bit more liberally to reflect the angling opportunities the populations can support. The listing is based on analysis of the anadromous form, and hi-jacking the listing as a blanket excuse to expand further restrictions to benefit resident rainbows everywhere could have unintended consequences for anglers with little in any benefit to steelhead.

I think we are saying the same thing.