Resource: Reconciling the conservation of wild salmon and the production of enhanced salmon under Canada’s Wild Pacific Salmon Policy: A discussion, Feb. 23-24, 2009
Authors / Publisher: Aaron Hill and Craig Orr, Watershed Watch Salmon Society (editors) for Simon Fraser University’s Continuing Studies in Science, Speaking for the Salmon
Date: February 23-24, 2009
Summary:
Salmon enhancement has a long history in British Columbia. The use of hatcheries and other enhancement tools has also generated much controversy, especially as we learned more about real and potentially negative interactions of enhanced and wild salmon.
Despite the positive introduction of a federal Wild Salmon Policy in 2005, it remains unclear how the artificial enhancement of salmon “fits” with Canada’s commitment to protect and conserve wild salmon and wild salmon diversity. A think tank was thus held on February 23 and 24, 2009, at the Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre campus, with the explicit purpose of prompting dialogue on how the conservation of wild salmon and the production of enhanced salmon might be reconciled under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy. Three expert presenters outlined key issues and concerns, and participants from several interests addressed the key themes of the workshop. This report is a conveners’ summary of the two days of deliberation.