Theodosia Salmon Enhancement Project
The Sliammon First Nation has been working with Community Futures and other partner groups to reestablish the salmon stocks in the Theodosia (Toh’kwanan) watershed. The salmon stocks have been declining since the installation of the diversion in 1955. SFN has been involved with AWMP committee to look at the removal of the diversion. PREI was looking at releasing water if compensated by government funds for loss of water flow for Hydro Power. Due to government withholding support of funding to PREI, The AWMP committee was dismantled.
To date SFN has continued to work with PREI to look at restoring flows into the Theodosia River, which in turn will benefit the salmon spawning grounds and revitalization of fish habitat. Presently we are working on enhancement and a ground water channel on our reserve site, partnering with PREI & DFO
The partnership groups working together can revitalize the salmon stocks by removing some of the animals for brood stock, which in return will produce more eggs therefore increasing survival of salmon fry in the stream.
Sliammon Has secured four transplant permits from government agencies for the introduction of all salmon species listed below.
SFN has agreed to incubate and rear the following species of salmon at our hatchery facility.
- 100,000 Chum Eggs to fry
- 100,000 Pink Eggs
- 100,000 Chinook Eggs
- 40,000 Coho Eggs
The Sliammon Hatchery staff where successful with the removal of the chum & Coho eggs from the Theodosia River, which were transferred to the Hatchery site for incubation & rearing prior to release in the spring.
Cryo preservation:
SFN fish hatchery has been supporting genetic conservation of cryopreserved sperm, eggs and embryos within the Theodosia Watershed. Genetic conservation simply recognizes the importance of genetic diversity. Habitat Conservation, maintaining Natural Surroundings. To put it simply if there was a disaster within this watershed, we could keep this river alive with the sperm and embryos stored in the gene bank. We are looking into future conservation of all traditional river systems using this formula.
Reporting requirements: Sliammon hatchery staff will carry out all reporting requirements to support DFO Guidelines and regulations.
Note: All species of salmon will be released into the Theodosia River this spring in order to make there natural migration time table out to sea. This is a good focal point for SFN to see that all of our traditional rivers are seeded to their capacity and start looking at resource management in our watersheds.
Project Manager & SESS Director
Lee George
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