Jennifer Miller
Whistler Question
After continued pressure from scientists and local communities, the government of B.C. has announced a hatchery program to help replace steelhead that were killed in last summer's Cheakamus River chemical spill.
Environment Minister Barry Penner announced Wednesday (April 26) the government had decided to go ahead with short-term hatchery supplementation after an independent scientific review was completed.
"I've said from the very beginning that our actions must be based on scientific analysis," Penner said in a news release.The announcement was met with praise from various groups around the province.
"I feel tremendous relief that the Ministry is allowing for this short-term hatchery program," said Edith Tobe, executive director of the Squamish River Watershed Society. "It's something that the Ministry has nothing to lose by supporting, and our community has everything to gain by this program going into place."
The B.C. Wildlife Federation also praised the province for coming to the decision.
"It is welcome that the BC Government listened to the local people including First Nations who urged the use of hatchery enhancement in the Cheakamus," said BCWF Lower Mainland Region President Robert Baker. "When the wisdoms of science and communities are combined we are more likely to find community-supported solutions that will actually work."
Over the next few weeks, 40 mature steelhead adults will be collected from the Cheakamus River to supply the eggs that will begin the hatchery process. The eggs are fertilized and hatched in the safe, controlled environment of the hatchery and then the baby fish, called smolts, are reintroduced to the river, Tobe said. At least 20,000 smolts are expected to be produced through this initiative. They will eventually join the wild adult spawners that return to the river in 2009 and 2010.
"We'll know in a couple of years if this has had a positive effect," Tobe said.
Dr. Marc Labelle, an internationally respected fisheries biologist, completed the scientific review for the province and determined a short-term hatchery supplementation would be a practical solution.
Almost half a million fish were killed instantly in August 2005 when a CN train derailed and dumped caustic soda into the river.The hatchery program will be presented at a public meeting in Squamish City Hall tonight (April 27) at 6 p.m. Members of the public will be able to contribute feedback regarding the entire draft recovery plan for the Cheakamus, including the steelhead hatchery.
-with files from Sylvie Paillard, The Chief
