Salmon stocks are cyclical. They rise and fall in accordance with natural rhythms that we often do not understand and control. Long-term changes in climate, atmospheric pressure, and water temperature create ocean conditions which are sometimes favourable to salmon survival and sometimes not. Short-term weather patterns - hot summers and cold winters - also affect survival rates. And then there’s the human factor: almost everything we do - directly and indirectly, deliberately or inadvertently - can put pressure on the salmon resource. Therefore, environmental protection and conservation are essential to the practice of salmon management.

BC’s wild Pacific salmon are managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in cooperation with industry and community stakeholders. Since the 1970's, DFO has engaged a number of different strategies to enhance the salmon stocks and protect their habitat for the future. Hatcheries, Fishways and Spawning Channels are a few of the installations that exist on the Pacific Region for this purpose. In addition, organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council play a role in ensuring the health of fish populations around the world by setting global standards for good fisheries management. Even individuals can contribute to salmon conservation. Everyone can take part in some way to promote the sustainability of our precious salmon stocks.

For a comprehensive look at the history and development of the Fish Passage Structure of the Fraser River, the following link may be helpful to you