Pacific Salmon Foundation

New research highlights 15 recommendations to improve fishing release strategies and enhance salmon survival outcomes. Catch and release has become increasingly common in British Columbia as certain salmon stocks have declined and regulations have restricted the size and number of fish that anglers can keep. Despite the best efforts of anglers, some released fish do not survive. Yet what causes mortality is not fully understood. The study – led by the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory at The University of British Columbia, supported by Pacific Salmon Foundation and Sport Fishing Institute of BC – offers new insights. The team of graduate students spent several years catching and tracking Chinook and coho salmon in areas frequented by recreational fishers around Vancouver Island. Read the recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/gibAgFpk

Meet the 2025/2026 Salmon Conservation Stamp Competition winner, Mark Hobson! His painting ‘Red October’ will be featured on the 2025-26 Salmon Conservation Stamp, a required purchase for anglers to acquire a tidal waters license. Mark Hobson is a professional artist based in Tofino, B.C. who has dedicated 30+ years to capturing the wildlife and landscapes of the Pacific coast. Before pursuing art, he taught science at Shawnigan Lake School, where he helped launch one of B.C.’s first school hatchery programs. Hobson's inspiration for ‘Red October’ came from snorkelling with salmon in the Taylor River near Port Alberni. He shares, “Salmon are an incredible part of the Pacific Coast, linking forests, marine environments, and countless species. Watching them return to spawn year after year is such a treasure.” Every year, hundreds of thousands of recreational fishers support salmon conservation by purchasing the $6.89 Salmon Stamp. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gx-gbTki #SalmonStamp #Conservation #Fishing #Habitat #Restoration

Our Marine Science Program, in partnership with Guardians of our Salish Estuaries, convened 65 salt marsh experts in Victoria for a symposium to discuss the future of marsh habitat restoration in British Columbia. Tidal marshes found at the mouths of rivers are critical habitats for Pacific salmon as they provide refuge from predators and food sources for out-migrating juveniles when they transition from freshwater to saltwater. We heard many inspiring presentations and discussions from industry, government, academic, and First Nations leaders that will inform the creation of a ‘Restoration Resource Hub’ - an open-access resource that will guide and coordinate future nearshore habitat restoration strategies. We’re excited to continue working together as we start building the Restoration Resource Hub, a key component of PSF’s new nearshore and estuary research project.   Thank you to our partners Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada & Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for your support and Songhees, Tsawout, and Tsartlip First Nations for opening the symposium with traditional drumming and singing.

We’ve definitely learned our lesson about sending Mr. Brown door-to-door. Help conserve BC salmon and the 130+ species that depend on them. Donate today. For the salmon! Visit: www.psf.ca/mrbrown

How did the salmon cross the road? 🐟 An atmospheric river last month flooded a forest service road in Ucluelet, and more than 100 salmon were counted swimming on the road, raising concerns they could become stranded. Supported by PSF’s Climate Emergency Fund, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation) and DFO took action to restore proper flows and prevent strandings. Post-flood restoration work is also being planned for the Mamquam River in Squamish. Learn more about these projects: https://lnkd.in/gze34ihH #AtmosphericRiver #BritishColumbia #PacificSalmon #Ucluelet #ClimateChange

“Salmon survival is kind of like a black box. It’s really hard to see where we’re seeing the greatest drops in survival.” As salmon return to spawn in streams and creeks across British Columbia, PSF’s Marine Science team is busy collecting data in real time from some of the 300,000 Chinook and coho salmon they’ve tagged since 2020. Using high-tech equipment installed in several rivers on Vancouver Island, our researchers are analyzing salmon they previously tagged as juveniles up to four years ago as they make the final push to their spawning grounds. In-season results can be tracked online – breaking down the timing and number of fish in each system, as well as the age, stock, and species composition of the returns. Tracking which fish return to spawn will help our team figure out where and when salmon are dying and how to make positive changes for the future of these populations. Check out the interactive dashboard: https://lnkd.in/g6GyZEum

The results are in! We’re pleased to share the winning art piece from the annual Salmon Conservation Stamp Competition: ‘Red October’ by Mark Hobson. This image will be featured on the 2025-26 stamp, a required purchase for anglers to acquire a tidal waters license. Every year, PSF leverages approximately $1.5 M in annual stamp revenue with additional funds from generous donors, supporting more than 150 salmon conservation projects through its Community Salmon Program. Congratulations to the 20 artists who’ve submitted an entry to this year’s Salmon Stamp Competition! Swipe to view the top three winners, in order of appearance: First place – ‘Red October’ by Mark Hobson Second place – ‘The Show Off’ by Curtis Atwater Third place – ‘Spawning Trouble’ by Broderick Crawford #SalmonStamp #Conservation #Fishing #Habitat #Restoration

⏰ Final call! Less than one week left to register for the BC Salmon Recovery and Resilience Conference. Don’t miss out on this inaugural gathering on December 3-4 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Join us to access 20 breakout sessions with 100+ inspiring speakers, including Jacques White from Long Live the Kings, and Dave Scott with Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Swipe to see why they are looking forward to the conference. View the conference schedule and register today: https://lnkd.in/gst58frt #BCSalmonConference #SalmonRecovery

PSF joins British Columbians and Canadians in mourning the loss of John Horgan, the former premier of British Columbia. Horgan served as the province’s 36th premier from 2017 to 2022 and was a resolute champion for Pacific salmon and the environment. Born and raised in Victoria, Horgan had an affinity toward protecting salmon that he made a priority of the provincial government as an elected official. “In B.C., wild salmon are part of who we are. Coastal communities, First Nations, ecosystems, and local economies depend on healthy wild salmon stocks,” said Horgan in 2021 on Wild Salmon Day. Under Horgan's leadership, B.C. helped champion the B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, create the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, and catalyze unprecedented provincial investments into wild salmon recovery and habitat restoration. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3afrxrd

Climate extremes have severely impacted salmon habitat at Big Silver River. Extreme floods and drought in the past three years have led to a river blockage and dangerously low water levels, impeding fish passage. To address these challenges, DFO and Sts'ailes First Nation undertook a series of actions to restore flows and reconnect the river. This year, their efforts were completed just in time for the sockeye return. The restored channel now provides 45,000 square metres of spawning habitat for sockeye, chum, pink, and coho salmon. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon will benefit from these restoration efforts. This project was supported by PSF’s Climate Emergency Fund and identified through a collaborative working group with the First Nations Fisheries Council of British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and PSF. https://lnkd.in/gaVmErFa #FraserValley #PacificSalmon #SockeyeSalmon #ClimateChange #Drought #Flood