By Cheryl Jahn

Salmon release an education in life

Jul 7, 2023 | 3:01 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Thousands of tiny salmon fry hit the Fraser River recently, all heading to the wide open ocean, where they will live for the next five to ten years. It’s all part of the Stream to Sea Program, of which Pinewood Elementary was a participant this year.

“Well, it’s been amazing to watch the whole life cycle process from the starting seeds from eggs,” says teacher Kendra Stewart, “And essentially after they actually grew into Alevin, where they have the food packs attached to them. So they are able to feed themselves and we’re not feeding them yet in the tanks and then they grow into the fry stage and that’s where we start feeding them. And it’s really amazing to watch them grow. And now they’re at the stage where we’re ready to release them into the river and they’ll start their journey.”

Terri McClymont has been running this program since 2008, putting thousands of youngsters like these through the program, and for many, it’s a memorable experience.

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“And that’s what we want. We want to create these little stewards so that when they grow up, they can find a field that really they’re passionate about and they think can help the environment. So whether they’re going to be a fishery officer, a conservation officer, someone that’s working with climate change, someone that’s working with recycling, someone in food security, they have a passion for the environment.”

The Stream to Sea Program puts three thousand salmon into the Fraser each year. And sometimes the lessons these students learn are about the cycle of life. And it’s a tough one salmon, says McClymont.

“On average, you’ll have a female salmon laying about 3000 eggs. Of those 3000 eggs, only 375 make it to the fry stage. The stage that we released today. And of those 375, only 30 make it down to the ocean, become a smolt go through that transition with their kidney so they can breed the saltwater. Only six make it out into the ocean and then only to come back as spawners.”

“So it has the connection with life cycles and with the environment as well,” says Stewart. “So we learn about the natural life cycles of different plant species as well as animals and in our local environment here. So they get connected with what’s going on in nature and ways that we can protect and support them as well and what we can do in our community to help.”

The Stream to Sea program releases three thousand fry each year.