Salmon Steward

salmon Steward magazine 23 VOICES FOR SALMON PERCY WALKUS HATCHERY UPDATE L ocated at the Katit (Oweekeno) Village in Rivers Inlet on the territory of the Wuikinuxv Nation, the Percy Walkus Hatchery has been operating since 2016. PSF is pleased to serve on the Hatchery Management Committee as well as support fundraising efforts. This hatchery works to enhance the world-famous Chinook populations (with many salmon over 60 lbs) on the Waanukv (Wannock), Kilbella and Chuckwalla Rivers in Rivers Inlet. This year, the annual "egg take" was a success, as all egg collection targets were met; 331,000 Chinook salmon eggs were collected from the Waanukv, while 57,000 eggs were collected from each of the Kilbella and Chuckwalla Rivers. At the time of this publication, the eggs will have hatched, developed into fry and have been transferred to rearing tanks. The fry will be reared until late spring 2020 when all of the Kilbella and Chuckwalla and a portion of the Waanukv will be marked (adipose-clipped and coded- wire-tagged). After marking, all of the Kilbella and Chuckwalla and roughly 80 per cent of the Waanukv fry will be transferred to holding pens in the ocean for a short period of rearing before being released as smolts. The remaining one-fifth of the Waanukv will be reared to smolt at the hatchery and released to the Waanukv River. With an impressive survival rate of 94-97 per cent from egg to fry, the hatchery team is looking forward to another year of successful releases. We commend the work done by dedicated volunteers in the area, as well as the many supporters of the hatchery – specifically, the generous contributions of both time and treasure from Duncanby Lodge, Good Hope Cannery and their respective teams. Exciting times are ahead for this incredibly well- operated hatchery! V ancouver International Airport (YVR) is located adjacent to one of the most important salmon-bearing rivers in the world. Craig Richmond, president & CEO, has led YVR's commitment to support this iconic species and the habitat so key to its survival. "As a community-based organization, we are committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainability," Craig says. "YVR is located near one of the largest salmon runs on the West Coast and we believe it is our Craig Richmond PRESIDENT & CEO, YVR TAKING STEWARDSHIP TO NEW HEIGHTS responsibility to enhance and protect the ecosystem of Sea Island." During his years heading up YVR, Craig has led the charge for YVR to take the necessary steps to protect Fraser River water quality. The river flows directly into the Salish Sea; as such, YVR's community investment program has supported PSF's Salish Sea Marine Survival Project since 2018. Additionally, in 2016, YVR became the first airport in the world to achieve Salmon-Safe certification. Craig Richmond truly is a Voice for Salmon.

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