How do We Preserve Salmon Life in Our Rivers?
Beyond Fishing reflects on how to actively participate in the preservation of the salmon species and animal wildlife along the Fraser River and its tributaries.
Where it Began
In the early 1900s, overfishing contributed to a mass recession of fish resources. Combined with the increase of the settler population and the development of commercial industries such as the building of the Coquitlam Dam, lumber mills, and hydro-electric structures; fish numbers declined at a continuous, fast rate. This decline resulted in the Fraser River becoming the most critically endangered rivers for wild salmon in Canada.
The Coquitlam Dam trapped many of the sockeye salmon behind the dam during spawning season and salmon stocks died before making it to their spawning grounds. Electrical facilities, including BC Hydro and the Vancouver Power Company, fought for water supply, neglecting its fish habitats. Gravel was extracted from the riverbed to provide flood protection for nearby homes. BC’s logging industry also played a contributing factor in the destruction of the river’s spawning beds of pink and chum salmon.
The Kwikwetlem First Nation were the first to report on the decrease in salmon stock; they started the initiative to protect the water and salmon life. Partnered with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Metro Vancouver, BC Hydro, and non-profit groups, Coquitlam and the Kwikwetlem First Nation have continued to preserve wildlife and help with the salmon return.
How have British Columbians taken care of the waters and the creatures who depend on the water quality and stable beds of the river? AKA “What can I do to help?”
Here are some resources to start – enjoy with family, friends, and your local community.
Volunteer at a Local Hatchery!
What is a hatchery?
A hatchery is a fish farm which harvests fish eggs to assist in the rebuilding of salmon and trout runs to compensate for the depletion of fish populations.
Hoy / Scott Watershed Society is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that promotes the care of the watershed restoration; supports, and maintains chum, coho and salmon runs in their Salmon Enhancement programs; participates in regular nature clean-ups and conducts educational programs in the conservation of salmon stocks.
Volunteers are trained under the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.
Check out their website to see how you can make a difference!
Be Informed of Your Fishing!
FishingBC was created by the Sport Fishing Institute of BC in partnership with Fisheries of Oceans Canada and supported by the Pacific Salmon Foundation. This app provides anglers and newcomers updated information on fishing in tidal waters for salmon, finfish, shellfish, and other species.
What does the FishingBC app do?:
Helps identify your catch of the day
Locates species of fish
Provides supplementary data to support fishery interactions and research
Keeps track of and helps monitor your catches
Provides daily updates on fishing regulations in your local area
Assists in obtaining fish licences
How to Start Your Own Fish Hatchery Operation
Interested in starting your own fish hatchery operation? Here is a toolkit to begin.
“Many volunteer groups are looking for nature-based solutions to restore local fish habitat but they don’t know where to start. Thanks to funding from OTF, we are now able to bridge that gap by providing groups with the tools and knowledge they need to organize their own fish habitat enhancement projects.” - Melissa Dakers, Lake Stewardship Coordinator, Watersheds Canada
This toolkit (provided by Lanark County Stewardship Council and Watersheds Canada) guides newcomers on the proper facilitation of your own fish enhancement project. They incorporate step-by-step models on how to successfully complete and build the Fish Habitat project in your local area. Note: Before you begin, first check with the local fisheries in your area.
Incorporate Teachings in Your Classroom
This learning resource, which focuses on salmon, biology, and stewardship, encourages an ecological approach, integrating science with social studies. Knowledge of salmon biology and habitat are viewed as building blocks toward a stewardship ethic. Stewardship means "making informed decisions and taking appropriate actions to protect and conserve all plants and animals who share our planet." And stewardship is one of the building blocks of a sustainable community where the economy, the environment and society are all taken into consideration when decisions are made. In short, this resource is about teaching kids how to "take care in our own lives so that salmon thrive!" - DFO
They teach students about the vocabulary of the salmon and its ecological structures. This module also helps in identifying the life cycle of fish and their habitats. Other resources in this module touch base on the anatomy of the salmon and their interactions with us. They lead to further protection and preservation of the fish life and their homes.
This curriculum supports prescribed learning outcomes and skills development within the following: English Language Arts (K-1, 2-3), Social Studies (K-1, 2-3), Math (K-1, 2-3), and Science (K-1, 2-3).
Salmonids in the Classroom Website
Salmonids in the Classroom: Primary