5/22/2016 0 Comments Managing Our Sockeye SalmonHow are we Managing Salmon? There are a great many stakeholders involved in the management and usage of sockeye salmon. These include but are in no way limited to recreational anglers, First Nations' groups, government organizations, non-governmental organizations, the fishing industry and the consumers it supplies. Have you eaten salmon recently? If you have, guess what? You're a stakeholder (Dracula had better watch out...). First Nations' traditional diet in British Columbia consisted largely of salmon, and this traditional diet is often protected and guaranteed by Treaties that the governments of Canada are required to uphold. Recreational anglers enjoy the sport, competition and peace of salmon fishing, and can often be spotted measuring their catches (and then adding dubious amounts to those lengths before telling the story). The fishing industry wants ever larger quotas to supply the increasing demand for salmon, and that demand is created by hungry consumers. Non-governmental organizations often work towards ensuring ecological health, so that future generations may be able to enjoy Canada's bountiful natural resources. The governments have the unenviable task of considering all of these needs and managing the fishery accordingly. Some of the strategies they use are: Fish Hatcheries Fish hatcheries are used as management tool to increase populations when habitat loss or degradation discourages reproduction. Salmon are grown from eggs extracted from adult salmon (which are killed in the process). These young salmon are then allowed to grow in large tanks and are fed an artificial diet consisting of pellets. This does not prepare them for life in a natural, wild stream into which they are released. These facilities focus on a band-aid solution that does not address underlying habitat concerns such as habitat loss, pollution and watershed obstructions. Hatchery fish can also out-compete what wild fish remain, and they have little genetic diversity because eggs are often sourced from the same parent fish. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans operates 23 salmon hatcheries in BC which produce hundreds of millions of salmon annually. Spawning Channels Spawning channels are long, winding gravel beds adjacent to natural spawning grounds which are controlled to provide ideal conditions for salmon spawning. These conditions include water levels, stream flow and water temperature. Survival rates are up to 100% higher than in adjacent natural streams. This method is more ideal than a hatchery, because the spawning process is natural, and the bears they attract provide safe tourism opportunities. Fish Ladders Fish ladders are structures built near or on dams which allow migrating fish such as salmon to pass these large obstructions. Many, such as the one pictured here, include a series of terraced pools which salmon can jump between, making their way to the top of the dam. Some fish ladders are also paired with catching stations, where fish are caught and then loaded into trucks for long distance transport around reservoirs or multiple dams. Dam Removal The removal of dams all together provides the most significant ecological benefit because a waterway is no longer obstructed at all, allowing completely free movement up the water body. This however limits the ability for water levels to be managed in case of flooding or drought, and may remove a hydroelectric generation plant from operation. As well, dam deconstruction is very expensive and requires a significant amount of time to undertake. Quotas and Catch Management In Canada, fisheries are regulated and managed in order to ensure both ecological health and sustainable economic development. First Nations’ hunting practises must also be considered. As part of this management, quotas or catch limits are often placed on salmon in certain regions, restricting anglers from catching a certain species or size of fish during certain times of year. In British Columbia, this is done to ensure more salmon are able to spawn than are caught. Salmonid Enhancement Program This management strategy is the Federal Government’s guidelines for operating salmon hatcheries, engaging with communities and the public and restoring salmon habitat. It has existed since 1977. Some habitat restoration projects include bank rehabilitation, wetland reconstruction, the addition of native plants to watersheds and improving stream flows during spawning season through dam management. What can You Do?
DamNation - A Film about Dams and Salmon - See it on Netflix Images:Fredenberg, Wade. “The Thompson Falls Fishway in Montana.” Desmog Canada. Desmog Canada. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
“Mica Dam Revelstoke.” Kasta Net. Castanet. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016. “Pinkut Creek Spawning Channel.” Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Digital Image. Web. 22 May 2016.
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