One of Santa Barbara’s oldest residents is nearly gone. Southern California steelhead trout, a mysterious fish that swims in our ocean and local streams and rivers, is at risk of extinction. The Santa Barbara Flyfishers — who do recreational catch and release fishing —  are trying to save it. On Sunday, March 9, the group will be holding a town hall meeting to launch their long-term campaign, “Save Santa Barbara Steelhead.” … Though they were once abundant in the Santa Ynez River and local streams, their populations have plummeted from nearly 30,000 to a “mere handful, under 20 today,”  (Dr. Mark Rockwell, the Flyfishers Conservation Chair) said. 

Other anadromous fish news:

• KCLU (Santa Barbara, Calif.): Go fish! Southern California Flyfishers launching campaign in Santa Barbara to save endangered fish
• KCLU (Santa Barbara, Calif.): Endangered fish displaced by Southern California wildfire now have new homes in Santa Barbara County
• NOAA Fisheries: News release: Endangered salmon move into newly restored habitat on the Mendocino Coast
• Los Angeles Times: Low salmon numbers in California could prompt shutdown of fishing for a record third straight year