Over 70,000 chum salmon fry will be released into Willingdon River this month, and residents are invited to help out.
According to the City of Powell River, they are partnering with the Powell River Salmon Society and the Salmon Preservation Foundation for the event after the success they had last year.
According to salmon society business development and community outreach officer Tyler Bartfai, the event is a good way to bring attention to aid salmon and the waterway.
“We would like to make a stronghold for chum salmon in town so more people can see and get involved with this iconic species,” said Bartfai. “Chum are the ecological backbone of many coastal streams by helping bring the nutrients of the ocean inland.”
After the fry are released, they will migrate into the ocean quickly and start feeding, according to Bartfai. The will then venture further offshore and even up to the Gulf of Alaska before returning to spawn at around four-years-old.
The event is set to happen on April 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Parks supervisor Mike Kaban says he is very excited based on the success of last year.
“They get to release the fish into Willingdon Creek and watch them swim away, all to come back to the same creek in the years to come. Everyone learns about salmon lifecycles and habitat,” said Kaban.
“We’re happy to be partnering with the Powell River Salmon Society and Salmon Preservation Foundation in helping to conserve our wild salmon stocks.”
Bartfai adds the event will help make the community more engaged in improving the stakes for salmon in the future.
