Watershed Watch in the news
January
Climate change playing havoc with some salmon species, while benefitting others: expert Grant Warkentin, My Comox Valley Now, Jan 7, 2024
An Unprecedented 817,000 Herring Killed by Salmon Farms, Prompting Calls for Penalties The Skeena, Jan 10, 2024
Climate change drove ‘unusual’ spike in Canada’s temperatures, study finds Stefan Labbé, Vancouver is Awesome, Jan 16, 2024
February
B.C.’s lack of snow foretells summer drought woes Rochelle Baker, National Observer, Feb 7, 2024
B.C. environmental groups request review of tire chemical linked to salmon deaths, Brenna Owen, CBC, Feb 7, 2024
Snowpack survey, The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, Feb 8. 2024
‘Significantly elevated drought hazards’ in B.C. due to low snowpack levels Laura Brougham & Kori Sidaway, Chek News, Feb 8, 2024
‘Very low’ B.C. snowpack raises drought concerns, Stefan Labbe, Vancouver Is Awesome, Feb 8, 2024
Sparse snowpack levels across B.C. raise drought fears, David P. Ball, CBC News, Feb 8, 2024
Chilliwack First Nations invite community to attend Gill Bar restoration event Feb. 21 Mike Vaden Bosch, Feb 8, 2024
Low snowpack puts B.C. at risk of another brutal drought Nathan Griffiths, The Province, Feb 8, 2024
Low snowpack expected to impact B.C.’s salmon population, Abigail Turner, CTV News, Feb 8, 2024
B.C. snowpack about 40% below normal, as Eby worries of ‘dramatic drought conditions’ Brenna Owen, Feb 8, 2024, Niagra on the Lake Local
Community conversation on Gill Bar restoration coming to Chilliwack, Jennifer Feinberg, Agassiz-Harrison Observer, Feb 8, 2024
‘It’s dire’: Low snowpack raises drought fears on Island Darron Kloster, Times Colonist, Feb 9, 2024
Low snowpack has major implications for B.C. salmon, Sonia Alsam, City News, Feb 9, 2024
Record low snowpack levels raise summer drought concerns Global News, Feb 9, 2024
Vancouver Island’s low snowpack has experts worried about drought, CFAX1070, Feb 12, 2024
March
Why is DFO considering extending BC fish farm licences when Feds promised transition plan by 2025? The Skeena, March 5, 2024
Salmon farms impacting wildlife: conservation group report Karin Larsin, CBC, March 12, 2024
What to feed farmed salmon? Cloe Logan, National Observer, March 18, 2024
Celebrate our local waterways this World Water Day Meghan Rooney, 100 Mile Free Press, March 21, 2024
BC fish farms’ dark legacy revealed in damning new report, West Coast Now, March 26, 2024
April
B.C. records lowest snowpack in 54 years, CTV News, April 10, 2024
Snowpack and salmon, Daybreak North with Carolina de Ryk, CBC, April 15, 2024
NGOs demanding the Marine Stewardship Council decertify Alaska salmon fisheries, Rachel Sapin, Intrafish, April 19, 2024
BC Wildlife Experts Debunk New Salmon Farming ‘Textbook’ The Skeena, April 23, 2024
Adjudicator accepts B.C. groups’ challenge to Alaska ‘sustainable’ fishery Stefan Labbe, Pique Newsmagazine, April 26, 2024
Canadian challengers to Alaska salmon MSC status to get review Undercurrent News, April 26, 2024
May
First Nations groups in B.C. issue duelling press releases on salmon farming Nelson Bennett, Business in Vancouver, May 6, 2024
21 Finalists Announced for the 2024 Land Awards, Real Estate Foundation of BC, The Tyee, May 6, 2024
Spiraling salmon populations ignite calls for urgent revisions as Alaskan fisheries continue to overfish Kerry Slack, APTN, May 7, 2024
Alliance Calls on Feds to Honour Promise to Phase Out Open-Net Fish Farms in BC by 2025, Strong Coast, May 10, 2024
Fish-friendly floodgate near Deroche to help restore salmon migration Dillon White, Agassiz-Harrison Observer, May 17, 2024
Watershed Watch Salmon Society Restoring Fish Passage at Joe’s Lake, in Deroche, near Nicomen Slough – (Video) Fraser Valley News, May 18, 2024
Leading the Way: Ocean Wise Sets New Standard with B.C. Salmon Assessment Methodology Oceanwise, Newsfile, May 28, 2024
June
Are B.C.’s open-net pen salmon farms closing — or not? Shalu Mehta, The Narwhal, June 7, 2024
Federal court upholds decision to keep open-net fish farms out of Discovery Islands Dean Stoltz, Chek News, June 12, 2024
“Using Our Coastal Waterways as a Sewer”– Suspicious Discharge Connected to Mass Die-Off at Nootka Sound Fish Farms The Skeena Staff, The Skeena, June 14, 2024
Mass mortality event kills hundreds of tonnes of B.C. farmed salmon Stefan Labbé, Coast Reporter, June 15, 2024
Federal government to announce decision on open-net fish farm licenses today, The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, CBC Listen, June 19, 2024
Feds delay B.C.’s open-net salmon farms closure until 2029, offer five-year renewals, Delta Optimist, June 19, 2024
Feds delay closure of B.C.’s open-net salmon farms until 2029 CBC News, June 19, 2024
Canada to ban open net fish farms in B.C. by 2029 Stefan Labbé, Times Colonist, June 20, 2024
Canada to ban open-net pen salmon farming in British Columbia Campbell MacDiarmid, The Guardian, June 20, 2024
Ottawa delays closure of B.C.’s open-net salmon farms until 2029 Robert Melton, Sky News, June 20, 2024
‘Please replace all frontlines with conga lines, violence with violins and bazookas with bouzoukis.’ Royal Canadian Navy led conga lines in Cuba, plus other letters to the editor for June 24, 2024. Stan Proboszcz, Globe and Mail, June 24, 2024
B.C. environmentalists, First Nations delighted by fish farm plan Alistair Taylor, The Chilliwack Progress, June 25, 2024
Canada Bans Open Net-Pen Salmon Farming in British Columbia Will Poston, Flylords June 25, 2024
William Shatner Is Raging About Open-Net Salmon Farms in Canada — Here’s What to Know, Jelisa Castodale, Food and Wine, June 25, 2024
July
B.C. government to transition from open-net pen salmon farming Margaret Bauman, The Cordova Times, July 4, 2024
Could Scotland follow British Columbia in banning open-net salmon farms? Ross Hunter, The National, July 6, 2024
Resilient Waters webinar about Fraser flooding and salmon impacts Neil Corbett, Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows News, July 6, 2024
C.B.: un groupe environnemental achète l’île du fleuve Fraser pour protéger le saumon L’actualite, July 8, 2024
Key salmon habitat protected after nature conservancy buys island in B.C.’s Fraser River Dirk Meissner, CBC News, July 8, 2024
Tackling ‘greatest salmon habitat issue’ on the lower Fraser River Jennifer Feinberg, The Chilliwack Progress, July 10, 2024
B.C. conservation organizations welcome Ocean Wise decision to pull its recommendation of sustainability for southeast Alaska salmon fisheries Cleaner Seas, July 11, 2024
Ocean Wise pulls label from some Alaskan salmon fisheries Canadian Press, CBC News, July 11, 2024
Some Alaskan salmon fisheries lose Ocean Wise label amid concern for B.C.-bound stock Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, July 11, 2024
Coho killer: How researchers uncovered a tire toxin decimating salmon populations Julie Chadwick, The Discourse, July 11, 2024
Ocean Wise pulls eco-labels from southeast Alaskan salmon Stefan Labbé, Business in Vancouver, July 12, 2024
Water has flowed from Vancouver taps for 100 years. What about the next century? Lori Culbert, Vancouver Sun, July 15, 2024
A fifth of a louse — environmental groups push for improvement in salmon farm rule change Hope Lompe, Canada’s National Observer, July 18, 2024
Southeast Alaska salmon fishery defenders lash out against Ocean Wise recommendation removal Cliff White, Seafood Source, July 25, 2024
August
No one knows what will happen with ‘devastating’ landslide blocking B.C. river: Chief Canadian Press, CTV News, Aug. 2, 2024
Landslide poses threat to salmon survival CTV News, Aug. 3, 2024
Debris from B.C. landslide raises concerns for fate of salmon runs in Chilcotin, Fraser rivers Patrick White, The Globe and Mail, Aug. 6, 2024
Officials celebrate ‘major step forward’ after purchase of private island for threatened salmon: ‘Big win for conservation’ Elijah McKee, The Cool Down, Aug. 9, 2024
Coquitlam River records historic return of sockeye salmon Josh Kozelj, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Aug. 21, 2024
Lois Lake fish farm had day in Powell River Provincial Court Tanya Hill, Coast Reporter, August 22, 2024
B.C. fish farm slapped with hefty fine for illegal operations Rochelle Baker, Canada’s National Observer, Aug. 23, 2024
Reprieve from gravel removal sought to protect salmon habitat in Chilliwack Jennifer Feinberg, Chilliwack Progress, August 26, 2024
Extended nightmarish drought strains British Columbia water systems, Mark Faucet-Atkinson, National Observer, August 26, 2024
Les quantités de poissons interceptées par l’Alaska suscite de l’inquiétude en C.-B. Camille Vernet, CBC/ ICI, August 27, 2024
Update: Homeless camp at Gill Bar in Chilliwack dismantled, with over 2,300 pounds of garbage removed Make Vandden Bosch, Fraser Valley Today, August 28, 2024
Reprieve from gravel removal sought to protect salmon habitat in Chilliwack Jennifer Feinberg, North Delta Reporter, August 28, 2024
September
Gill Bar team clears out riverside encampment near Chilliwack Jennifer Feinberg, Abbotsford News, September 4, 2024
Unlicensed farm hit with $350,000 fine after 483 days of illegal activity Editorial Staff, Salmon Business, September 9, 2024
Canadian company fined for operating illegal steelhead farm Chris Chase, Seafood Source, September 11, 2024
Coree Tull: Why B.C.’s rivers and watersheds should be a priority this election Coree Tull, The Province, September 21, 2024
Canadian conservationists call on MSC to strip ‘sustainability’ label from Southeast Alaska salmon Jacob Resneck, Undercurrent News, September 24, 2024
Going to Court for Wild Salmon Desiree Mannila, Watershed Sentinel, September 29, 2024
October
Tri-Cities Today: Events around the region on Oct. 5, 2024 Janis Cleugh, Tricity News, October 5, 2024
What’s in the water? These conservationists want to know Liz MacDonald Squamish Chief, October 6, 2024
B.C. election candidates must prioritize watershed security to reduce flood risk Lina Azeez, Jason Lum, Tricity News, October 14, 2024
Impact of flooding on local salmon population won’t be known for years Cheryl Chan, Stephanie Ip, Joseph Ruttle, Vancouver Sun, October 21, 2024
B.C. groups’ bid to classify Alaskan fishery as unsustainable rejected Stephan Labbe, Business In Vancouver, October 29, 2024
B.C. groups lose bid to stop Alaskan fishery’s sustainable certification Chuck Chiang, CBC, October 31, 2024
Objections overruled to MSC re-certification of Southeast Alaska salmon Jacob Resneck, Undercurrent News, October 30, 2024
Adjudicator rejects conservationists’ concerns, recommends MSC recertification of Alaska salmon Nathan Strout, Seafood Source, October 31, 2024
Un échec des écologistes devant la pêche durable en Alaska Radio-Canada, October 31, 2024
November
Critical natural areas shield half of Canada’s population from flooding, study finds Stefan Labbé, Vancouver Is Awesome, November 26, 2024
Strong salmon returns across BC All Points West with Jason D’Souza, CBC Listen, November 18, 2024
3 years, 2 deadly atmospheric rivers. Is B.C. ready for the next one? Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood, The Narwhal, November 12, 2024
December
Vancouver Island salmon return ‘one of the best in 20 years’ Olivier Laurin, Victoria News, December 4, 2024
† Indicates stories on studies by researchers whose work is co-sponsored by Watershed Watch.