Releasing Chum Fry at the Fingerling Festival
Posted on May 2nd, 2007 by Rodney Hsu, webmaster

Young and old volunteers releasing juvenile salmon into Noons Creek (Photo: Rodney Hsu).

Beside the arrival of early adult salmon in the Fraser River, May is an exciting month for salmon lovers. In the next several weeks, millions of juvenile salmon will be making their way down their natal rivers and entering the ocean. It is also the time when local hatcheries start releasing their batches of juvenile salmon.

There is one particular community hatchery program that has been very successful over the years. Noons Creek Hatchery, operated by the Port Moody Ecological Society, has slowly revived Noons Creek’s salmon populations and brought watershed stewardship to the community.

On Saturday May 5th, the hatchery will once again be hosting the annual Fingerling Festival. Visitors will be able to release buckets of juvenile salmon that volunteers have been raising at the hatchery since last fall. In total, 30,000 chum fry are expected to be released into Noons Creek. It is also a celebration where local stewardship groups such as the Pacific Streamkeepers will be displaying their projects. Other activities include arts and crafts, raffle draws, hot dog sales, and live music.

Here is a short video clip of 2004's Fingerling Festival.

For more information, please visit Port Moody Ecological Society's website.

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