Action needed to prevent salmon homelessness

September 13, 2007 VANCOUVER - Municipal governments and regional districts must take action to protect fish habitat in their jurisdictions, according to the David Suzuki Foundation.

Local governments in B.C. will vote on a resolution sponsored by the City of Port Moody and based on recommendations of a Foundation handbook, Zoned RS-1 (Residential Salmon-1), at the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention in Vancouver September 24 to 28.

The lighthearted handbook with serious intent encourages local governments to use zoning bylaws and to work with other levels of government to protect fish habitat from numerous threats, including municipal development, climate change, water use, logging, and mining.

"Although habitat protection is most often thought of as a federal or provincial responsibility, local governments have considerable powers under the Municipal Charter to conserve and protect salmon habitat," said David Suzuki Foundation salmon conservation biologist John Werring.

"A number of municipalities have already passed such bylaws, but more need to get on board to ensure the survival of salmon," Mr. Werring said.

The David Suzuki Foundation is also releasing a report titled High and Dry: An investigation of salmon-habitat destruction in British Columbia, which takes a serious look at fish-habitat issues across the province. Both reports can be found at www.davidsuzuki.org

For more information, contact:

John Werring, Salmon Conservation Biologist, (604) 732-4228
Ian Hanington, Communications Specialist, (604) 732-4228, ext. 238