apter 9
Ch
Salmon
왖 Sockeye salmon like these are one of British Columbia’s valuable
renewable resources.
Salmon are an important natural resource in British
Columbia. They are a valuable resource in commercial fishing,
sport fishing, aquaculture (fish farming), and processing.
Harvesting Salmon
Harvesting is taking any resource, including water, from
Check your
understanding as you
read this section. Pause
after each paragraph
and try to explain what
you have just read,
using your own words.
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Earth’s surface. This means that fish, such as salmon, are
harvested, even though we usually use the words “fished”
and “caught” instead of “harvested.” Many different methods
of salmon harvesting have been used in British Columbia.
Salmon are highly valued by the Aboriginal peoples of
British Columbia. For thousands of years, they have been
harvested by Aboriginal peoples using traditional methods.
These methods do not catch a lot of salmon at a time,
and they allow the number and kind of salmon caught
to be controlled. Today, most salmon that are harvested
using traditional methods are used for personal food
and ceremonies.
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Harvesting fish to sell is called commercial fishing.
Commercial fishers need to catch large numbers of
salmon. To do this, they use different methods than
traditional fishers. It is difficult to control how many
salmon are caught using commercial fishing methods.
As well, these methods often catch other fish and marine
life along with the salmon.
Salmon can also be farmed. This is called aquaculture.
In fish farms, the salmon are raised in closed pens, mostly
in the ocean. They are fed special feed pellets. When they
are large enough, they are harvested and sold. About
three quarters of the salmon raised on fish farms in British
Columbia are Atlantic salmon. This kind of salmon is not
naturally found in the Pacific Ocean.
왖 Catching salmon using
a weir [WEER].
왖 Catching salmon using
a seine [SAYN] net. The
seine net is attached to
the boat.
왖 Some salmon are raised in fish farms, like this one in the Burdwood
Islands.
Many salmon are caught in sport fishing, as well. Another
name for sport fishing is recreational fishing. Recreational
fishing is an important part of British Columbia’s tourist
industry. Many people from other parts of Canada and the
world come to British Columbia to fish and to enjoy the
natural beauty of the province.
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Processing Salmon
People do not use most living resources exactly as they are
harvested. Usually, the resources are processed. When a
resource is processed, it is changed from its natural form
into another form. Salmon are processed so they will taste
different or to preserve them (make them last longer).
In the past, Aboriginal peoples processed the salmon
they caught so they could eat salmon year-round. The salmon
were air-dried or smoked on cedar sticks around a fire.
Drying or smoking the salmon removed the moisture
from them, so they would not rot. Today, these traditional
methods continue to be used in Aboriginal communities.
왖 Aboriginal peoples continue to smoke salmon today using
traditional methods.
Starting in the early 1800s, European settlers used salt to
preserve salmon. The salmon were salted and transported
back to Europe in barrels. By 1867, canneries were operating
in British Columbia. In canning, the salmon are cleaned
and packed into metal cans with lids. The cans are then
heated to remove the air and cook the salmon. Canning
is still an important process for preserving commercially
harvested salmon. As well, many salmon are frozen, smoked,
and sold fresh.
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Protecting the Salmon Industry
The number of salmon in British Columbia’s waters today is
much lower than it was in the past. There are many opinions
about why the number of salmon is decreasing. Some of
these opinions are
increased fishing
• an increase in the temperature of Pacific Ocean water
• the destruction of streams and rivers where salmon lay
eggs
• the infection of wild salmon with lice from farmed salmon
•
How can we save the salmon? Governments have passed laws
about the kind of salmon and the number that can be caught
each year. Groups of people are protecting and restoring
environments where salmon lay their eggs. Governments,
scientists, Aboriginal peoples, environmentalists, fishers,
fish farmers, and other interested people are working
together to find ways to protect our salmon for the future.
Think about what you
have read. How do you
think British Columbia's
salmon should be
protected? Compare
your opinion with a
partner's opinion.
1. Use a Venn diagram to compare the similarities and differences
between traditional Aboriginal methods for harvesting salmon
and commercial fishing.
2. Why do you think salmon farming started?
3. Create a flow chart to show what happens to a salmon from the
time it is caught until a sandwich is made from a tin of salmon.
Salmon are caught
in big boats
Salmon are taken
to canneries
4. Why does the salmon industry need to be protected? How is this
being done?
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