Our Story
We Are River People
A Community of Salmon Lovers
Founded in 2007, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust is committed to securing a future where the Skeena River and its surrounding coastal communities become a global example of balance and sustainability. Here, the roots of Indigenous Nations, local communities, and the natural rhythms of wild salmon are intertwined; our job is to ensure that both can flourish together. By collaborating with all communities, we are working to safeguard the stability and long-term health of these ecosystems.
Our mission is to ensure that the region remains a place where the human connection to wild salmon endures, providing material security and fostering a deeper relationship with nature for all who call this place home and for future generations to come.
The Skeena is one of North America’s last remaining intact watersheds, yet over $100 billion in industrial projects threaten its future.
To avoid the fate of other places which have been dammed, polluted, overfished and paved over, we need comprehensive strategies to assess cumulative impacts and prioritize regional planning that ensure the protection of wild salmon and their habitats, which ensures the stability and security of the communities that rely on them, preserving both nature and livelihoods for generations to come.
Salmon Rely On Us, We Rely On Salmon
Sustainability and strength demand vision, compassion, and a commitment to long-term balance. In places like the Skeena, where wild Pacific salmon thrive, the health of these fish reflects the health of the environment.
Salmon play a crucial role in the food chain, supporting local cultures and economies. When salmon populations decline, it affects everyone, threatening both nature and human well-being. Defending them means defending our way of life and ensuring a healthy, thriving watershed for all communities.
Deepen Connections
At SkeenaWild, we empower communities through science, education, and collaboration to protect salmon and improve resource management. Our goal is to help people and nature thrive together. We support responsible development in industries like mining and forestry that doesn’t endanger salmon or local livelihoods, using sound science to assess impacts and offer sustainable solutions.
It’s simple –
We support responsible development
Our approach is based on human and ecological sustainability, research and community input. It’s simple – we support responsible development, whether it be mining, forestry, fisheries, or energy, that does not put salmon and communities at risk. This is done by using good science to assess impacts and provide solutions.
Our Work
Sustainable Fisheries Management & Climate Change Solutions
Climate change is transforming the future of salmon, along with the people and fisheries that rely on them. As uncertainty grows, it’s crucial to make our fisheries sustainable and adaptable. We prioritize solutions that balance human needs with the health of our food chains, working toward a future where salmon and communities thrive together.
Science & Research
We conduct and support rigorous research to assess human impacts and develop solutions for wild salmon ecosystems. In addition to ongoing fisheries and Wild Salmon policy-related research, we have several science programs underway and Science Director Dr. Michael Price continues to merge his research into SkeenaWild initiatives.
Mining Reform
Mining impacts are a growing concern in the Skeena Watershed. We’re working with partners to modernize 100-year-old mining laws, assess regional mines, and improve fish and water protection. Together with Indigenous partners, we’re enhancing monitoring, updating land use plans, publishing research, and addressing compliance issues in B.C.
Land Use Planning & Forestry Reform
Our work extends beyond the river, partnering with communities to improve logging practices and support Indigenous-led Land Use Plans that sustain fish, water, wildlife, and communities. These plans are one way in which reconciliation can be operationalised, aiming to replace outdated forestry practices with detailed, habitat-focused strategies that protect nature, culture, and local economies.
Estuary Protection
The Skeena River estuary is one of the world’s richest salmon-rearing habitats, sheltering up to a billion juvenile salmon and steelhead annually as they transition to saltwater. Recognized as critical for Skeena salmon survival, it remains Canada’s only major salmon watershed without an estuary management plan. Indigenous nations, conservation groups, and scientists support advancing protection for this vital area.
Salmon & Watershed Education Program
SkeenaWild’s Salmon and Watershed Education Program provides hands-on, inquiry-based learning for students of all ages. Led by a passionate educator, these workshops connect students with nature through engaging activities, delivered indoors, outdoors, or online.