Discussion/background information:

Pacific salmon are an icon of Western Canada and play a critical role in ocean, river, and forest ecosystems. They feed bears, eagles, other fish, and people.

Three populations of Pacific salmon have been officially identified as at risk (i.e., threatened or endangered) in Canada, but none is receiving legal protection under Canada's Species at Risk Act. Many other salmon populations across Western Canada have faced similar declines (see report below).

Although some changes have been made in salmon-fisheries management in the past 10 to 20 years, salmon from populations at risk are still being caught at high rates. Declines of these populations have continued, but catch rates regularly exceed 20 per cent of the returning adults.

Question to ask your candidate:

Does your party support reducing the catch of threatened and endangered salmon to ensure salmon, and salmon fisheries, have a strong future?

For more information:

David Suzuki Foundation report: Upstream Battle: Declines in 10 Pacific salmon stocks and solutions for their survival