Our Story

  • SkeenaWild is helping to make a difference

We believe a global model to sustain salmon can help sustain all species.

Formed in 2007, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust is dedicated to making the Skeena River and nearby coastal communities a global model of sustainability where large human and salmon populations coexist. We are working with governments, Indigenous Nations, communities and individuals to sustain the long-term health and resilience of the wild salmon ecosystems and local communities.

The Skeena is one of North America’s last remaining intact watersheds, where $100 billion in industrial projects are proposed.

To avoid the fate of other systems which have been dammed, polluted, overfished and paved over, we need comprehensive strategies to assess cumulative effects and encourage regional planning which protects our wild salmon ecosystems and the communities who depend on them.

Our Approach, Our Philosophy​

Sustainability and resilience requires imagination, compassion and long-term balance. Salmon are the backbone of the diverse cultures, economies and ecosystems in the Skeena region. Protecting salmon is fundamental to maintaining and building a healthy watershed and local communities.
  • We are focused on the effective use of science, laws and convening to empower communities to protect and strengthen salmon populations, improve management decisions and deepen people's connection with wild salmon.
  • 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

Habitat and Species Protection

We provide support, leadership and education regarding development that threatens the health, resilience and diversity of wild salmon and their habitats. We facilitate dialogue among residents and work with communities and all levels of government to increase understanding of impacts from existing and proposed industrial development, improve proposed projects, and provide solutions.

Science and Research

We conduct and sponsor rigorous and applied science and research to understand impacts and provide solutions to local issues facing wild salmon ecosystems. We catalyze and support planning processes and policy reforms which advance wild salmon protections, sustainability and resiliency.

Sustainable Fisheries Management

We collaborate with governments, Indigenous Nations and conservation partners to reduce impacts on at-risk populations of salmon and develop and implement rebuilding plans. We collaborate with our conservation partners to reduce the number of BC-bound salmon killed in Alaskan commercial fisheries every year.

Community Engagement

We build relationships, create dialogue, gather feedback, and share stories and information. We do this through educational programs, events, and conversations in our communities. SkeenaWild supports the right of Indigenous people to free, prior and informed consent. We work to empower Skeena salmon communities to improve decision-making and long-term planning, and build a Skeena watershed identity.

Our Supporters

SkeenaWild depends on support from a variety of revenue sources to carry out our science and research initiatives, habitat protection projects, community engagement and education programs.

We are thankful for the support provided currently and in the past.

MEET OUR SUPPORTERS