Cycling Fraser River basin against salmon farming, for conservation

August 19, 2010
Quesnel Observer

The Wild Salmon Express was in Quesnel last week drumming up support for Bill C-158.

Daniel van der Kroon and Michelle Nickerson, the two members of the Wild Salmon Express, are cycling the length of the Fraser River to promote Bill C-158.

The bill, proposed by Fin Donnelly, NDP member of Parliament for New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody, would in effect require coastal fish farms to convert to closed containment systems.

van der Kroon, a third-year geography major at the University of the Fraser Valley, said the Wild Salmon Express is trying to get as many people as possible to sign specially-designed postcards, the postcards would be delivered to Donnelly’s constituency office.

The pair began their trek in Overlander Falls at the beginning of August.

They chose Overlander Falls because it is the highest reach for salmon spawning in the Fraser River basin.

Since then the Wild Salmon express has wound it’s way through as many towns as possible, including Valemount, McBride, Prince George and Quesnel and will eventually end in Vancouver.

“It’s a big task,” van der Kroon said of the trek that will cover 55 communities.

Read the full story in the Quesnel Observer