Wild Salmon

Wild Pacific salmon are inextricably woven into the culture and the economy of the West Coast. Few images are as evocative as the salmon in full spawning colours. They’re icons in our art, our cuisine and storytelling. The salmon fishery was a founding industry of what would become the province of British Columbia. Long before that, salmon was a key resource for Aboriginal people – one that was treated with reverence. Every First Nation kept the custom of returning all the bones of the first salmon caught to the river. Respect for the Salmon Spirit ensured abundance of food and the fish’s perpetual return.

The relationship between these extraordinary fish and humans dates to the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Since that time, Pacific salmon have evolved into more than 9,600 distinct populations and live in nearly every Canadian watershed that drains into the Pacific Ocean.

Today, the wild Pacific salmon fishery is worth $184.4 million a year and is an important part of the economy for many coastal communities. Salmon is eaten fresh, smoked or canned in B.C., across Canada and around the world.

But wild Pacific salmon are in trouble. The West Coast of Vancouver Island once boasted 1,200 stocks. Now, some 718 -- more than half -- are extinct, at moderate risk of extinction or considered stocks of special concern. Province-wide, at least 142 salmon populations have vanished forever. If salmon are to survive in the wild, they need help.

The David Suzuki Foundation is working to conserve Pacific salmon

The Foundation is committed to the conservation and protection of wild Pacific salmon and their habitats. We are currently working with government, industry and other conservation organizations to improve habitat protection and fisheries management. We believe the First Nations had it right – for the salmon to return, the Salmon Spirit has to be respected.

Check out our latest reports on salmon habitat threats and solutions:

       

Join with the Foundation in convincing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to take action to preserve our wild salmon stocks. Ask them to take these three simple steps:

1. Stop paving over salmon streams and overfishing (preserve habitat and improve fisheries management).
2. Start taking global warming into account in salmon-protection plans.
3. Go out in the field to enforce the laws protecting salmon (renew the will to enforce the Fisheries Act and other legislation that would halt the destruction of salmon habitat and over-exploitation of the resource).

Other ways to help include:

Make waves. Send an e-mail to the Fisheries Minister and ask the Canadian government to provide more resources for implementation of the Pacific Wild Salmon Policy.
Work with local governments and encourage them to pass bylaws that protect our “Salmon Neighbourhoods”. Check out our municipal salmon handbook: Zoned RS-1 (Residential Salmon).

SALMONOPOLIS – helping salmon where they live

The David Suzuki Foundation has developed www.salmonopolis.ca, a web tool designed to support education, capacity building and advocacy resources for people who want to help salmon where they live.

Salmonopolis.ca is also a Crime Stoppers for fish. The site has a “Report-a-Violation” section that allows citizens to make habitat-damage reports, contact lists to help them connect with and support local stream-stewardship groups, and an “Ask-an-Expert” feature where an appropriate scientist or policy expert posts answers to visitors' questions. Check it out.