Save Our Skeena Salmon!

Three fish farm applications have been approved for the worst spot in Canada: The southern approaches to the Skeena River. The Skeena River has the second largest commercial wild salmon fishery in Canada. Prince Rupert harbour, near the mouth of the Skeena, still bustles with fish boats and yellow aproned fish plant workers. The Skeena is world renowned for its huge Steelhead. Salmon related industries support hundreds of small businesses on the coast and upriver. The Cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, and Smithers, all have booming sportfishing charters and guiding businesses. People travel from around the world to see the grizzlies and kermode bears which feed on Skeena salmon. There is a saying: "Red salmon white bears".

Salmon "food fisheries" are an absolutely crucial part of the economy of coastal and upriver First Nations villages. Village or city, First Nations or not, the value of jarred wild salmon in cupboards and salmon in freezers is immeasurable. The Liberals in Ottawa and Victoria may be willing to risk all this but the people who live here are determined to stop these farms from moving into the North Coast.

Environmentalists, commercial fishermen, sportfishermen, First Nations band councilors, upriver groups, coastal groups, unionized plant workers and independent fish sellers don't usually get along all that well when the subject of salmon comes up. But they have put their differences aside to protect the one thing they all really care about - wild salmon. They have formed a broad loose coalition, Friends of Wild Salmon, with one agreed goal: a moratorium on open net fishfarm expansion in BC. They are having a fish farm forum and feast on May 7th. People from all around the region are planning to come to learn more about the issue and to figure out how to protect the Skeena salmon from fish farms.

The Terrace and District Guide Association is distributing posters. The tackle shops are promoting the event and giving away door prizes. Lax Kw"alaams (largest Tsimshiam community) Band Council is screening the fish farm documentary "Call from a Coast" in the high school gym to help promote the May 7th event. Many people and groups are helping out, from Smithers to the coastal villages. The Prince Rupert Environmental Society has put up a website to inform the world about the issue and show the impressive list of Summit speakers. You can visit their website and show your support by signing their online Declaration.

Guest Speakers of Save Our Salmon Summit

Ken Moreau is a flyfishing guide & lodge owner. He started his flyfishing guide service in Campbell River offering guided trips to several rivers of the North Island. Due to lack of wild salmon & steelhead stocks returning to the island rivers, Ken moved his Family & guide service to the Terrace area where he now resides and is the part owner of Spey Lodge, located on the banks of the Skeena River in Terrace.

Ken is coming to the Save our Salmon Summit to share his story about how fish farms, specifically escaped Atlantic salmon, have negatively affected his guiding business on Vancouver Island and why he decided to re-locate his business to Terrace.