Historic Trilateral Accord signed to save wild Pacific salmon: A united effort for future generations

On June 21, 2024 — National Indigenous Peoples Day — the Government of Canada, the Province of B.C., and the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C. signed a trilateral accord to urgently address the decline of many wild Pacific Salmon populations across British Columbia. This agreement represents a historic joint commitment to take urgent action to safeguard the species for future generations.

Pacific salmon are of vital importance to Canada’s natural environment, local communities and have a central place in First Nation culture, spirituality, traditions and way of life. However, wild Pacific salmon are facing historically low population levels as climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and fishing pressures impact the species. Wild Pacific salmon travel from their natal freshwater streams and rivers to coastal ecosystems before reaching the open ocean. Due to their migration through the province’s river systems and across the north Pacific Ocean, the Government of Canada, Province of B.C., and First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C. must act together to address the decline in salmon populations.

The Trilateral Accord to Address the Decline of Wild Pacific Salmon (the Accord) establishes a collaborative process between the three parties to align and coordinate work on shared wild Pacific salmon conservation priorities. This represents a transformative step that will help the signing partners develop long-term, comprehensive approaches and align resources to address the decline of wild Pacific salmon in a coordinated matter. Jointly developed priority areas of focus include climate adaptation, ecosystem monitoring, habitat restoration, recovery plans and watershed security.

The Accord is made possible largely through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), the largest, most transformative investment Canada has made in decades towards the protection and restoration of Pacific salmon and their habitats. It is also an important early milestone in DFO’s commitment under the federal United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) Action Plan Measure 41, which relates specifically to collaborative implementation of the PSSI.

The Accord was signed in Vancouver by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, the British Columbia Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Kelly Greene, and the Vice-President of the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C., John Henderson.

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Trilateral accord to address the decline of wild Pacific salmon