Dear Kamchatka Steelhead Protectors,In this not-so-faraway land of volcanoes, tundra, grizzly bears, and wild rivers, Moscow State University and The Conservation Angler co-direct the joint Russian-American Kamchatka Steelhead Project (KSP) - a listed program under the US-Russia Agreement on the Environment.
For thirty years, this unique program has fostered a cooperative and dramatic rebound of wild Kamchatkan steelhead populations from near-extinction following a period of industrial-level poaching on the heels of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The scientific work, jointly accomplished between Russian and American fishery scientists, has produced a better understanding of life history strategies that have contributed to these recoveries and provided a road map to better steelhead management throughout their Pacific range.
Since 1994, these efforts have been underwritten by sponsoring anglers who, as volunteers, collect these fish through low-impact catch-and-release angling. However, the COVID pandemic in 2020 and the ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022 have prevented the execution of the KSP’s usual fiscal model, which is underwritten by sponsoring volunteer anglers.
Despite these obstacles, The Conservation Angler and our Russian partners have mounted joint scientific and anti-poaching expeditions in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to protect the conservation gains on these remote and pristine rivers.
In 2024, we again face the fiscal challenge of mounting and sustaining our ongoing scientific and anti-poaching conservation programs in the absence of sponsoring anglers. We can be certain that should we fail to maintain our presence on these remote and pristine world class rivers, the poachers will return - with predictable consequences for wild steelhead.
With support from our partners in the Moscow State University Ichthyology Department, we will conduct a 30-day scientific/anti-poaching operation covering the Utkholok, Kvachina and Snotalvayam Rivers from September through October. This will cost about $60,000 USD. To date, we have raised $35,000 -so our funding goal for this appeal is $25,000.00.
Thank you to those who have already contributed to this effort.The Conservation Angler requests your support to raise this modest sum, which will sustain this important international science and conservation expedition and secure our collective and collaborative conservation achievements on Kamchatka’s iconic wild steelhead rivers.
The Conservation Angler and I sincerely appreciate your continued support and understanding. If you have any questions about Western travel to Kamchatka, please contact me directly by email or phone at 425-501-9852.
Warm Regards,
Pete SoverelKSP Founder and Board Chair of The Conservation Angler
soverel@theconservationangler.org