Today was the opening of the Salute for Salmon on the Adams River. There were about 8000 people there. I arrived at dawn before the crowds
I saw an osprey take a salmon out into the forest
As the sunlight hit the water the fish blazed a brilliant shade of red
The park interpreters said that the water level is good and the temperature is low enough to be good for the sockeye. Many people came from areas downstream and said the fish are still coming.
I was really struck by the level of commitment of the local people to these fish. The Fraser sockeye benefit a large area of British Columbia as they head down the coast fueling commercial fisheries, wilderness tourism, First Nation food fisheries and are an important source of food for the watersheds… and yet defending the spawning grounds of this extremely valuable resource is left to the local people of this area.
They are trying to clean up sewage outfall, dealing with a land development along the beach less than a kilometer away from the mouth of the Adams, raising funds for a fish ladder in the upper Adams and hosting thousands of people.
I don’t understand this. I see the big seiners and scores of vessels fishing these sockeye, but there seems no visible interest in what happens where all these fish are made. If we want wild salmon it is up to us and I am very thankful to the people of Shuswap and surrounds for doing so much for all of us. It was incredible to see so many fish and so many people, for the most part co-existing side by side. There were thousands of children, elderly, people in wheelchairs, young families and teens.
We are lucky to have the people of Shuswap looking after BC’s biggest wild salmon run.
Comments
One response to “Opening of the Salute For Salmon”
Hello there,
Fish ladder on the Upper Adams River? I have never heard of that concern before. I believe the interest for a fish ladder was in regards to the Middle Shuswap River at the Wilsey Dam.
No visible interest? Have you not see the many DFO stock assessment crew members on the Adams River. Have you taken the intiative to talk to them recently and asked them how their work was going? What about talking to DFO staff that are helping out vistors at the park? These stock assessment crew members take a great deal of pride in their jobs. They work 7.5 hours a day, 7 days a week in all weather conditions. Crews are also at other locations in the area which includes the Shuswap River, Eagle River and Seymour River. It is not a glamourous job, but a necessary one. The task to enumerate this season is likely the most challenging in recent times; however, these people (mostly seasonal staff) give it their all. I am sure people that frequent this site would enjoy a report on the type of work they do.
I am also against development near the mouth of the Adams. This area is likely one of the most productive pieces of land in the province. Thank you for putting this river and this particular issue on your blog.