In the United States bull trout were reduced to about five percent of their historic range, and have recently been listed as an Endangered Species. This move has been referred to as one of the most significant listings ever made in the US because of the extensive historic range of bull trout throughout the Pacific Northwest. In the Yukon, fisheries managers are trying to ensure that the species does not suffer the sorts of problems that it has experienced down south. A brood stock of bull trout is now being established in a pothole lake near Whitehorse. Thompson says the hope is that once they start stocking other lakes with bull trout, there will be less pressure on this species in the Liard drainage.
Bull trout are very susceptible to habitat destruction and overfishing.
They are slow to mature and they will seldom pass up a free meal, which makes them easy to catch. Thompson says that managing these three closely related species is a learning exercise for everyone involved. We re trying to learn and to educate anglers because the three species have different management requirements. We want to inform people about how to tell them apart. Thompson says she finds this process fascinating and decidedly easier these days.