Tag Archives: Tla'amin hatchery

Rivers & Oceans

The Chum Return to Basil Creek

The Chum started returning to Basil Creek a week ago. To an inexperienced eye, the water levels seemed too low on the 16th, but dozens of large salmon were progressing upstream beyond the culvert. Christine Robinson said that she and her husband Cec had seen them the previous day. That was when we agreed to do this interview. 

“We know it’s the big year in their four year cycle. Chum primarily have a four year cycle, a few of them three, and a few of them five, but the majority have a four year cycle.  In 2020, four years ago, approximately 1100 fish came back to Basil Creek. Four years prior to that, in 2016, there were about 1100. We’re not alone in this. All the creeks are in a similar cycle. Basil Creek, of course, is the main stream on Cortes for salmon return. So we’re optimistic that it should be a big year this time,” explained Cec Robinson, one of the principal Streamkeepers on Cortes Island.

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Rivers & Oceans

Salmon skyline takes wild coho conservation to new heights

Editor’s note: When the Chum runs were large enough, Cortes Island Streamkeepers harvested the eggs from Chum Salmon returning to Basil Creek and raised them in the Klahoose hatchery in 2020 and 2021. Very few salmon returned in 2022, so 50,000 Chum eggs were brought from the Tla’amin Fish Hatchery in Powell River. The following article illustrates the fact that DFO has been attempting to preserve salmon stocks in many areas.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Winter sun backlighting their frosted breath, a dozen people trudge gingerly in the icy waters of the Trent River in search of salmon.   

Loaded with gear and armed with wooden poles, eyes down and intent, they test each step on slick rocks while navigating the currents swelled by November rains. 

Each fall, upwards of 25 volunteers join an expedition to a remote section of the Vancouver Island river to help the Courtenay Fish and Game Protective Association trap spawning coho to take back to its new hatchery at Comox Lake. 

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Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

52,000 Chum eggs come to Cortes Island

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The Klahoose water taxi brought 52,000 Chum eggs to Squirrel Cove yesterday. ‘Goat 1’ tied up at the Klahoose dock around 11 AM. 

“The eggs come from Tla’amin Fish Hatchery in Powell River. I think the amount is probably based on what they get on returns, because they have their own creeks and rivers where they get their Chum eggs,” explained Klahoose Fisheries Officer Byron Harry.

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Rivers & Oceans

Powell River Salmon Society: C’mon DFO – Fund us!

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Powell River Salmon Society has recieved zero increase in funding from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the federal government over the past 40 years. 

With the federal announcement of the $647.1 million investment towards saving Pacific wild salmon last year, the Powell River Salmon Society had heard nothing about receiving any of this, despite North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney writing a letter to the Department of Fisheries Oceans (DFO) minister last July. After no response to the letter, Rachel and the Salmon Society worked together to create a petition.

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Rivers & Oceans

Powell River’s Big 3 fish debates

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sitting outside Powell River Outdoors, owner Sam Sansalone fiddles with a fish hook on the picnic table.

“Look out on the water, and tell me how many boats you see,” Sam says. 

On a bright sunny day with calm water, there was a single sailboat that could be seen on the Salish Sea. 

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