Ten ways you can help Skeena wild salmon
Get informed. Learn about the Skeena’s many unique salmon populations and the threats to their survival. Check out Skeena River Fish And Their Habitat by Gottesfeld and Rabnett.
Ask for wild salmon. Open-net salmon farms are killing wild salmon through the spread of disease and sea lice. If you see salmon on your menu, ask the server if it’s wild or farmed. If you get a blank stare in return, take a minute to fill them in on the issue.
Experience the magic. Wild salmon swim 610 kilometres up the Skeena to spawn every year. Go down to the river and watch this marvel of nature. Take your kids and help them appreciate the wild salmon system.
Write your politicians. Tell them wild salmon are the backbone of our identity in the Northwest. Urge them to speak out for wild salmon conservation.
Take action online. There are several groups in the Skeena watershed fighting for a wild salmon future. Visit friendsofwildsalmon.ca or skeenawatershed.com and take part in their online actions.
Practice stewardship. Nearly everything we do in the Skeena watershed affects salmon. From not dumping chemicals down the drain to keeping cattle out of riparian areas, there are lots of ways we can protect salmon habitat.
Share the story. We have one of the world’s greatest treasures right here in the Skeena. Spread the word through your friends, family and co-workers.
Support change. The way we’re managing salmon isn’t working, and our weak salmon runs are heading for extinction. Join the call for reforms to wild salmon management, and full implementation of Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy in the Skeena watershed.
Fish right. If you’re an angler, make sure you know the current regulations and best practices for fish handling. Make your angling an act of conservation.
Show up. Salmon have gills, fins, but alas, no vocal chords. They need you to be their voice at public hearings, open houses, and consultation processes. Calm your nerves, step to the microphone, and speak for the fish.