Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship and Minister Responsible for Fisheries, and Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, have released the following statement to mark B.C. Wild Salmon Day:

“British Columbia is home to all five wild salmon species – chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye – as well as steelhead. Wild salmon have been at the foundation of Indigenous culture and way of life for millennia and remain an integral part of B.C.’s food security, ecosystems and economy. Wild salmon are iconic, and simply intrinsic to our way of life.

“In partnership with Indigenous Peoples, the federal government, anglers and fishers, and community stewardship groups throughout B.C., we are working to recover and revitalize wild salmon. They nurture an interconnected web of plant, animal and aquatic life, so keeping wild salmon healthy and plentiful in B.C. waters is critically important to all British Columbians.

“The Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship is committed to collaboratively developing and implementing strategies that support healthy wild salmon, their habitats and the communities and people who rely on them. Making progress on implementation of a wild salmon strategy is a priority, including the cost-shared B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Since 2019, we have jointly invested $142.8 million in nearly 100 projects that address broad issues impacting wild salmon. We are committed to doubling this funding to ensure the sustainability of wild B.C. salmon and the habitats they depend on, so the wild salmon industry has the best opportunity to thrive.

“In collaboration with First Nations, we are also developing B.C.’s first Coastal Marine Strategy to better protect coastal habitat while building strong coastal economies. And through the development of a Watershed Security Strategy and Fund, we can help heal the land, restoring wetlands and riparian areas using nature-based solutions to sustain our rivers and ensure access for salmon to return home to spawn.

“Through awareness days like B.C. Wild Salmon Day, the tireless work of thousands of community stewardship volunteers, and the important work and ongoing dialogue with the Government of Canada, Indigenous Peoples, local governments and non-profit organizations, we are working hard to protect and restore wild salmon populations.  

“On June 1, we encourage all British Columbians to celebrate wild salmon, learn more about these important species and their critical roles in our environment and in our cultures, and share newfound knowledge with others.”

Learn More:

To read about how B.C. is restoring salmon habitats through active BCSRIF projects, visit:
https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/initiatives/fish-fund-bc-fonds-peche-cb/projects-projets-eng.html  

To read about the development of British Columbia’s Watershed Security Strategy, visit:
https://engage.gov.bc.ca/watershedsecurity/

To read about the April 2022 BCSRIF $30.5 million funding announcement, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/stories/government-of-canada-and-province-of-british-columbia-make-a-significant-investment-in-salmon-resear