Navigating New Waters to Support Salmon Recovery in Northern British Columbia
The Skeena Fisheries Commission studies lakes, rivers and coastal waters throughout northern British Columbia (BC) to better understand water conditions and salmon habitat. This work is carried out in partnership with First Nations, academic institutions and government agencies.
Previously, the Commission relied on small boats for this work. However, their limited size restricted access to larger water bodies, created safety challenges during field operations and limited some monitoring activities.
Larger Boat, Greater Reach
ISF funding enabled the Skeena Fisheries Commission to purchase a larger boat, expanding its capacity to carry out fisheries and aquatic science programs while strengthening support for Member Nations’ fisheries initiatives. The new boat has improved access to larger lakes and increased the ability to safely transport personnel and specialized monitoring equipment.
Since its purchase, the boat has supported water quality and aquatic ecosystem monitoring on Morice, Meziadin, and Babine Lakes in collaboration with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, Gitanyow Fisheries Authorities, and Lake Babine Fisheries.
Research boat carrying specialized monitoring equipment on Morice Lake. (Photo Credit: The Skeena Fisheries Commission)
Water samples collected during monitoring activities on Morice Lake. (Photo Credit: The Skeena Fisheries Commission)
From Monitoring to Stewardship
Healthy freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands, are essential to salmon survival. These habitats provide salmon with the food, shelter and clean water they need during different stages of their lives. Sockeye salmon, for example, typically spend one to two years growing in lakes before beginning their migration to the ocean.
Monitoring lake conditions helps improve understanding of the factors that influence salmon survival, growth, reproduction and their ability to sustain future generations. This information supports informed conservation, stewardship and salmon rebuilding efforts.
The Building Capacity for Exploring Relationships in Productivity and Salmon Resiliency project demonstrates how strategic investments in equipment can generate lasting benefits for salmon stewardship. By supporting the purchase of a larger boat, ISF helped strengthen the Skeena Fisheries Commission’s ability to conduct aquatic monitoring, support Member Nations and gather information needed to inform fisheries management and conservation efforts. Investments in long-term capacity help ensure that the knowledge, tools and resources required to support salmon populations remain available for years to come.
The Indigenous Stewardship Fund (ISF) works in close partnership with the First Nations Fisheries Council (FNFC), which serves as a frontline organization for collaboration with First Nations across British Columbia. FNFC leads relationship-building and engagement with more than 200 First Nations across the province, listening to and identifying Nations’ interests, priorities and perspectives. ISF complements this work by serving as the funding mechanism that helps turn those relationships and priorities into action. Together, FNFC and ISF ensure that the leadership, needs and priorities of BC First Nations are met with flexible and accessible resources that support Indigenous-led stewardship, habitat protection and long-term environmental resilience.
