Tŝilhqot'in Territory, British Columbia - For generations, First Nations have served as stewards of Pacific salmon and the watersheds that sustain them. Collaboration between Indigenous governments and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) continues to play an important role in rebuilding vulnerable salmon populations in British Columbia and Yukon.
Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, in partnership with the Tŝilhqot'in National Government, announced the award of a contract valued at over $7.5M to Industra Construction, to formally initiate construction of a new Pacific salmon conservation hatchery in the upper Fraser River watershed.
Since 2022, the Tŝilhqot'in National Government (TNG) and DFO have collaboratively completed feasibility, design, and permitting for a salmon conservation hatchery in Tŝilhqot'in Territory. The facility will be located near Hanceville, British Columbia, on the traditional territory of the Tŝilhqot'in First Nation.
Built by the Government of Canada and operated by the Tŝilhqot'in National Government, the hatchery will be used to rebuild Chinook salmon populations in the Chilcotin River watershed and surrounding area, a number of which have been assessed as at-risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
The project will include a hatchery operations building, fish culture and incubation facilities, water supply and distribution systems, utility and back-up power infrastructure, as well as education features. The hatchery will have an initial capacity to raise 250,000 Chinook salmon fry annually and will incorporate design features and technology, which will enable adjustment of operations to evolving conservation priorities and environmental conditions.
The recovery and rebuilding of Pacific salmon stocks in the Chilcotin River watershed will provide tangible benefits to the upper Fraser River ecosystem, improve food security, facilitate re-establishing First Nation cultural connections with salmon, and support long-term sustainability of populations and fisheries for the benefit of all Canadians.
