Marie-Jeanne Reid
Lake Windermere Ambassadors
Salmon, we love them in our sushi, smoked, grilled, fried and raw. We love to watch them swim against the current in thousands and fish for them all day long. But they are much more than a moments’ pleasure, they are integral in our animal kingdom and have earned themselves the title of a keystone species. This means salmon have an influence on their environment that is disproportionate to their abundance.
Salmon in BC support more than 130 other species with their nutrients; however, their population has been declining since the 1930s, with many facing extinction risks. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine that the Columbia River used to produce more salmon than any river on earth! Since the salmon holds great significance in many Indigenous cultures, the lack of salmon has had severe impacts on communities that rely on them for survival, including the loss of language, culture, health, economy, knowledge transfer, identity and self worth.
Thankfully, some groups are actively working to change this by reintroducing salmon into the Columbia River. In the Columbia Valley we have the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation, Canada and British Columbia working to return fish stocks for Indigenous food, social and ceremonial needs, and to benefit the region’s residents and ecosystems as a whole. The “Bring the Salmon Home” initiative has completed three salmon release ceremonies over the past three years to begin the cycle of reintroducing salmon into our waters. This may seem like a problem solved, but there are many hurdles these fish must face and we must be patient to see any results. The life cycle of a salmon can range from two to seven years depending on the species, with reproduction occurring only at the end of their lifespan.
It all begins with a fertilized egg that develops through the winter and hatches in the spring. Alevins, tiny fish with their yolk sac still attached, emerge next. As they continue to grow, they reach the fry stage, coming out of the gravel and swimming to the surface for oxygen for the first time. Fry can remain in their natal stream or nearby lake for five months to two years before beginning their migration towards the ocean. Once in the ocean, salmon spend one to seven years there; Sockeye typically spend two years, while Chinook can stay up to seven years. The final stage of life is the spawning migration. When salmon return to freshwater, they stop feeding, prepare for spawning, and build nests. After spawning, both male and female salmon die, providing one last ecosystem service as they decompose.
Remarkably, each adult salmon contributes about 130g nitrogen and 20g phosphorus to the surrounding environment. This nutrient influx benefits ecosystems, as it has been found that vegetation along the banks of salmon-bearing waterways grows more than three times faster compared to areas without salmon. For example, a sicca spruce near salmon bearing waters requires only 86 years to grow 5 cm in diameter rather than 300 years. Interdependently, trees and vegetation are vital for salmon survival since excessive sedimentation is lethal to salmon eggs. The roots help anchor the soil during heavy rains, which salmon rely on to navigate up streams, preventing excessive eroding sediments from entering the waterway. Additionally, the shade from trees helps prevent the sun’s rays from warming the water, maintaining safe temperatures for all stages of salmon development.
In turn, healthy salmon populations support the overall health of ecosystems and communities, demonstrating the intricate relationships they sustain and the importance of continued conservation efforts.
