Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative : Salmon enhancement

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative : Salmon enhancement

Salmon hatcheries can help support both conservation and harvesting objectives and help regenerate vulnerable populations of Pacific salmon stocks.

Salmon enhancement is one of the 4 key pillars of Canada’s Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative. Through this pillar, we seek to strengthen our ability to use hatcheries to support conservation while allowing for targeted opportunities to fish.

We are modernizing and expanding our hatchery program by listening to and relying on experts and using the latest science in our decision-making processes.

We are investing in new technology and infrastructure and upgrading existing hatcheries. New hatcheries are being built now and they will help to support rebuilding salmon.

Over the last year, we began updating the Rosewall Creek hatchery on Vancouver Island, as well as at the Chehalis and Inch Creek hatcheries in the Fraser Valley. We are also reviewing the modernization needs at hatcheries operated by our partners.

This past year, we acquired 2 highly specialized automatic marking trailers that will significantly expand our capacity to "mark" hatchery-grown fish. This is often done by clipping the adipose fins of hatchery juveniles, with minimal impact to the fish.

Through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, we are working to increase the use of conservation-based salmon hatchery production to help recover, stabilize and restore Pacific salmon stocks.