Salmon Hatcheries

The Old Massett Village Council, founding partner in HSRC, has been engaged in operating salmon hatcheries and engaging in a wide variety of salmon protection and enhancement work in the watersheds of Haida Gwaii for more than 40 years. Over the decades more and more efforts to save the salmon have resulted in an increasing number of  young salmon, or smolts, going to sea every year. But each year fewer and fewer adult salmon return to Haida Gwaii.

It has become clear that no matter how much we do on behalf of the salmon upon the islands of Haida Gwaii it is not enough. This truth now seems self evident that to restore our salmon we must harken back to the stewardship lessons of “Salmon Boy.”  We take care of the salmon both when they return to us from the sea; but perhaps even more importantly we must take care of their ocean pasture home. This truth seems self evident when one knows that a salmon returning from its ocean pasture has put on 98% of its body mass grazing there. Like any pasture, if the pasture grass is failing so will the animals that live on that pasture.

Nevertheless the Old Massett Village Council will continue in its  hatchery and other land based work to protect, enhance, restore, and conserve the salmon in every way.

Marie Lake Hatchery                                                              Capturing Yakoun River Broodstock for hatchery

Stripping Eggs                                                                   Just hatched Alevins

Young in the hatchery                                                     Smolts ready to go out to their ocean pastures.