Should wild Pacific salmon be an official symbol of British Columbia?

 

The Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fraser Basin Council and Living Rivers - Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island invite the people of British Columbia to express their views on a proposal to designate wild Pacific salmon* as an official provincial symbol under the Provincial Honours and Symbols Act.

Pacific salmon are a precious natural inheritance and valuable economic resource. If we are careful, they will be an important legacy to pass to future generations of British Columbians.

Wild Pacific Salmon

Wild Pacific salmon are a cornerstone of our environmental, cultural and economic strength in British Columbia.

Consider:

  • Salmon tell an inspiring story. Their epic journey from natal stream to the ocean and back is a natural drama of survival in the face of almost overwhelming odds.
  • Salmon support communities. They have long been connected to the cultural traditions, food supply and economic well-being of First Nations and of all British Columbians.
  • Salmon are integral to ecosystem health. As salmon make their journey through BC's waterways, their bodies spread nutrients and feed a wide variety of other species. Salmon abundance is also a sign of environmental health. Like the canary in the coal mine, salmon show us if aquatic ecosystems are in or out of balance.

*Note on Pacific Salmon: The starting point for this discussion is that all species of Pacific salmon would be considered collectively as "Pacific Salmon."

Should wild Pacific salmon become one of our official provincial emblems, alongside the Pacific dogwood, the Kermode bear and western red cedar?

 

What do you think?

Please share your views by doing one of three things:
  • Follow the What do you think? link to submit a response via a web questionnaire.
  • Send an email to mmoser(at)psf.ca with the subject line
    "Salmon as BC Symbol"
  • Send surface mail to
    Pacific Salmon Foundation
    1682 West 7th Av
    Vancouver BC V6J 4S6
    Attention: Megan Moser
The Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fraser Basin Council and Living Rivers - Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island will relay all submissions to officials of the Province of British Columbia.

What others have said:

Salmon in the ecosystem
    "Salmon embodies the spirit of land and sea in the Pacific Northwest. It is a critical link in the health of an entire ecosystem. It provides crucial nutrients to plants and animals, including humans."
    —Sophie Verrier, Kamloops

    "The Pacific salmon embody the essence of the coastal ecosystem from the sea to the forest. They are a powerful cultural and biotic symbol."
    —Jefferson Blair, Victoria

    "The salmon life cycle is remarkable and fascinating. Healthy salmon populations mean healthy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems."
    —Jan Verspoor, Vancouver

    "Salmon are vital to the ecosystems of our wild forests and rugged shoreline."
    —NQ Christina Burns, Victoria

    "I love eating salmon and they feed the forests also. They are a key in the ecosystem."
    —Kevin Adam, Chase

    "Pacific salmon is THE dominant species in coastal British Columbia...It is life-sustaining, not just for humans, but for many other species on the coast. It is emblematic, and an indicator species of the environmental health of the coast. Salmon are our call to action on climate change, ocean protection, and coastal, indeed global, ecology."
    —Arthur Caldicott, Victoria

    "Sensitive to ecosystem change so it is a key indicator species for resource extraction practices like forestry and mining and sensitive to global temperature increases."
    —Chloe Faught, Victoria

    "Pacific salmon are the lifeblood of BC. They feed everything - the bears, the trees, the soil, the people. ...they migrate far inland upriver - an unbelievable distance from the sea. This is unique to BC - Atlantic salmon do not die when they spawn, so they do not feed the soil as Pacific salmon do."
    —Cynthia Callahan-Maureen, Victoria

    "It is central to the life cycles of much of B.C.'s wildlife species."
    —Pamela Fitzpatrick, Vancouver

Click here to read comments featured earlier.

Join the conversation

 The proposal to make wild Pacific salmon an official symbol of British Columbia is being discussed by many stakeholders:
We will post regular updates based on the comments collected and emerging coverage. Check back here to find out the latest!
Posted by Megan Moser in "Fish & Fisheries"in "Engagement" on 8/11