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presentspresents

Save the Streams:Save the Streams:Southern Vancouver Island Southern Vancouver Island SalmonSalmon

SalmonSalmon• There are five species of Pacific salmon that die There are five species of Pacific salmon that die • after spawning; after spawning;

– Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink. Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink.

• Salmon return to their natal streams and rivers each year. Salmon return to their natal streams and rivers each year. • Salmon travel thousands of miles and spend one to five years Salmon travel thousands of miles and spend one to five years

feeding in the ocean before returning to their birth streams. feeding in the ocean before returning to their birth streams. • Spawning females dig out a gravel nests, called a Spawning females dig out a gravel nests, called a reddredd. . • The males then fertilizes the eggs and the female protects the The males then fertilizes the eggs and the female protects the

redd for one to two weeks. redd for one to two weeks. • Alveins hatch and mature into fry, developing vertical bars for Alveins hatch and mature into fry, developing vertical bars for

camouflage, called camouflage, called parrparr marks. marks. • After a period of feeding fry migrate downstream towards the After a period of feeding fry migrate downstream towards the

ocean and grow into smolts adapting to their marine ocean and grow into smolts adapting to their marine environment. environment.

ChinookChinook• Oncorhynchus tshawytschaOncorhynchus tshawytscha • Spring, Salmon, King, Blackmouth, Quinnat, Chub, Spring, Salmon, King, Blackmouth, Quinnat, Chub,

Tyee (14+kg)Tyee (14+kg)• Chinooks have a greenish-blue dark back with long Chinooks have a greenish-blue dark back with long

black spotsblack spots• red hue develops around the fins and bellyred hue develops around the fins and belly• male teeth are enlarged and they have a hooked male teeth are enlarged and they have a hooked

snoutsnout• Tyee reach 1.5 m and 58 kg, Tyee reach 1.5 m and 58 kg, • average 90 cm and 14 kg. average 90 cm and 14 kg. • Spawning peak, May to June and August to Spawning peak, May to June and August to

September.September.

ChumChum• Oncorhynchus ketaOncorhynchus keta• Dog SalmonDog Salmon• Females are a metallic blueFemales are a metallic blue• males have a checkerboard males have a checkerboard

colouration, a dark horizontal stripe, colouration, a dark horizontal stripe, and canine-like teeth. and canine-like teeth.

• Average from 4.5 to 12 kgAverage from 4.5 to 12 kg• Spawning peak month, OctoberSpawning peak month, October

CohoCoho• Oncorhynchus kisutchOncorhynchus kisutch• Silver SalmonSilver Salmon• Spawning males are red on their sides, and a Spawning males are red on their sides, and a

bright green on the back and head areas, with a bright green on the back and head areas, with a darker colouration on the belly, and spots on darker colouration on the belly, and spots on upper tail fin lobe. They also develop a hooked upper tail fin lobe. They also develop a hooked jaw with sharp teeth. jaw with sharp teeth.

• Females develop a lesser-hooked snout. Females develop a lesser-hooked snout. • reach 1 m and weigh up to 14 kgreach 1 m and weigh up to 14 kg• average between 3 to 5 kg. average between 3 to 5 kg. • Spawning peak, July to August.Spawning peak, July to August.

SockeyeSockeye

• Oncorhynchus nerkaOncorhynchus nerka

• Kokanee, Red Salmon, Blueback SalmonKokanee, Red Salmon, Blueback Salmon

• Varying shades of red resulting in a Varying shades of red resulting in a brilliant scarlet fish with a green head. brilliant scarlet fish with a green head.

• Grow to 83 cm Grow to 83 cm

• weigh up to 7 kgweigh up to 7 kg

• Spawning peak month, AugustSpawning peak month, August

PinkPink

• Oncorhynchus gorbuschaOncorhynchus gorbuscha

• HumpiesHumpies

• Pale greyPale grey

• males develop a humpmales develop a hump

• up to 76 cm and to 5.5 kgup to 76 cm and to 5.5 kg

• average 1.5 to 2.5 kgaverage 1.5 to 2.5 kg

• Spawning peak month, OctoberSpawning peak month, October

Southern Vancouver Island: Southern Vancouver Island: Salmon Spawning Streams and RiversSalmon Spawning Streams and Rivers

ThreatsThreats• On top of natural dangers from predators dangers to salmon On top of natural dangers from predators dangers to salmon

from human activities include: from human activities include: – poor farming and forest practicespoor farming and forest practices– pollutionpollution– destruction of coastal wetlands and estuariesdestruction of coastal wetlands and estuaries

• The territory of British Columbia salmon has been decimated The territory of British Columbia salmon has been decimated for decades by industrial clearcut logging.for decades by industrial clearcut logging.

• Roots of trees anchor steep slopes. Roots of trees anchor steep slopes. • Logging increases the chances of landslides filling vital Logging increases the chances of landslides filling vital

spawning grounds with mud, debris, and boulders. spawning grounds with mud, debris, and boulders. • Shade from trees is lost increasing water temperatures. Shade from trees is lost increasing water temperatures. • Other threats include:Other threats include:

– Overfishing, urbanization, hydroelectric dams, fish farms, and global Overfishing, urbanization, hydroelectric dams, fish farms, and global warmingwarming

ActionsActions• Salmon play an important role sustaining forest ecology. Salmon play an important role sustaining forest ecology. • Spawners bring vital nutrients from the ocean into the forest. Spawners bring vital nutrients from the ocean into the forest. • Carcasses are dispersed by bears and eagles providing the trees with Carcasses are dispersed by bears and eagles providing the trees with

fertilizer; nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. fertilizer; nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. • Salmon feed the rivers helping the survival of young salmon. Salmon feed the rivers helping the survival of young salmon. • Farmed salmon does not replicate this vital role and is detrimental to wild Farmed salmon does not replicate this vital role and is detrimental to wild

stocks. stocks. • Dangers from fish farms include: Dangers from fish farms include:

– diseasedisease– pollution (including contaminating shellfish)pollution (including contaminating shellfish)– predation on young wild salmonpredation on young wild salmon– escapement (Atlantic salmon compete for food and habitat with wild stocks)escapement (Atlantic salmon compete for food and habitat with wild stocks)

• Conservation actions include: Conservation actions include: – cleaning up salmon streams (ensuring clean and safe flowing environments)cleaning up salmon streams (ensuring clean and safe flowing environments)– recyclingrecycling– using biodegradable and organic productsusing biodegradable and organic products– choosing wild salmon over farmedchoosing wild salmon over farmed

SummarySummary• Salmon – 5 speciesSalmon – 5 species

– ChinookChinook• 4848++kg, dorsal spotskg, dorsal spots

– ChumChum• 1212++kg, male checkerboardkg, male checkerboard

– CohoCoho• 55++kg, red sides, green backkg, red sides, green back

– SockeyeSockeye• 77++kg, red body, green head and tailkg, red body, green head and tail

– PinkPink• 33++kg, male humpkg, male hump

• Threats – farming, forestry, Threats – farming, forestry, pollution, urbanization, global pollution, urbanization, global warming.warming.

• Actions – stream cleaning, Actions – stream cleaning, recycling, using recycling, using biodegradable, organic, and biodegradable, organic, and choosing wild salmon.choosing wild salmon.

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