Ottawa commits over $50M for three new salmon hatcheries in B.C.
The funding covers construction of new hatchery facilities in Prince George, Hanceville and the Skeena River system, with First Nations sharing operation of two of the three sites.
The federal government has announced more than $50 million in contracts to build three salmon hatcheries in British Columbia as part of conservation efforts overseen by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. All three projects are located on traditional First Nations territory or will be run by a local nation.
The largest contract, worth $38 million, will fund construction of the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery near the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers in Prince George, within Lheidli T'enneh First Nation territory. The federal government will own and operate that facility.
Two additional contracts of about $7.5 million each will go toward a hatchery near Hanceville in the central Interior, to be operated by the Tŝilhqot'in First Nation upon completion, and the next phase of the Wilp'Ho Dix Hatchery in the Skeena River system in northwestern B.C., which will be jointly operated with the Gitanyow First Nation.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson confirmed the arrangements in a statement. Combined, the three hatcheries are expected to have the capacity to raise more than one million juvenile Chinook and sockeye salmon annually.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.