Make salmon the provincial fish, groups urge

Judith Lavoie
July 29, 2010
The Times Colonist

B.C. has a provincial flower, mineral, tree, bird, mammal and tartan.

Now it's time for a provincial fish, say salmon supporters.

Non-profit conservation organizations Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fraser Basin Council and Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island Living Rivers are appealing for support in an effort to have wild Pacific salmon designated as B.C.'s provincial fish.

"Pacific salmon are part of the social, cultural, economic and environmental heritage of British Columbians," said Brian Riddell, Pacific Salmon Foundation CEO.

"They have helped shape our history and, for First Nations, the relationship with salmon goes back thousands of years."

Al Lill, Living Rivers manager, said the idea is being floated to figure out whether it has widespread public support before an approach is made to the government.

"Salmon mean an awful lot to the population as a whole in B.C. It seems like a really good rallying point," he said.

If response is strong enough, a request could be made this fall, Lill said.

One question not yet resolved is which variety of salmon is most iconic -- the bright red of the sockeye, feisty coho favoured by sports fishermen, big chinook or possibly pinks and chums.

"We have had a lot of debates and decided not to pick any one of them, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was some sort of First Nations representation of salmon," Lill said.

There could also be a practical reason for designating wild Pacific salmon as the provincial fish, said David Marshall, Fraser Basin Council executive director.

"Making salmon an official symbol could help raise awareness of the value of salmon and strengthen the public's commitment to manage this important resource for the benefit of future generations," he said

Read the full story in The Times Colonist

See related stories:

• Courier Islander; July 28, 2010; "A truly wild idea"