Ep. 434: The State of Salmon in British Columbia
Guest: Jason Hwang, Pacific Salmon Foundation
Salmon are one of the most magnificent species that you rarely get to see, especially when they go to sea.
The migratory route from freshwater to the open expanse of the Gulf of Alaska and then back again is unparalleled. No other species travels these great distances without an overhead view – salmon travel to and from their spawning grounds, guided by some internal sonar that is remarkably precise.
Jason Hwang says, “They swim thousands of kilometres and return to the exact same spot. We still don’t fully understand how they do it. It is truly remarkable.” Over the past 100 years, their numbers have crashed. We know many of the reasons why – spawning ground disruption or destruction, coastal eel grass depletion, predators, and the science also points to impacts from open-pen fish farms. Then there is the mystery of what happens when they head out to the open ocean. Add in a changing climate and the impact is devastating on British Columbia’s salmon populations.
Despite the bad news, some salmon populations are showing signs of resilience. Hwang says, “It’s impressive how salmon are able to adapt.” He goes on to say, “It’s important to note they need us to make responsible choices about salmon habitat.”
We invited Jason Hwang, the Vice President of Salmon at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of salmon in BC.
