A Canadian Keystone’s Upstream Struggle
Keystone species define an ecosystem as they are the glue that holds a habitat together. These species are critical to the world around us. They play such an integral role in the healthy functioning of their ecosystem that without their continued presence, these biological communities could cease to exist altogether. One keystone species in particular that continues to have a profound impact on the waters, forests, and people of Canada, is salmon.
These long, blunt-nosed fish are born into freshwater ecosystems, where they play a large role in providing nutrients that food webs depend on to flourish. Not only do these nutrients support rivers and other aquatic animals, but they also help nourish the surrounding environment, even outside of the water.
As natural prey for several animals, the impact of salmon far exceeds the rivers and oceans we normally associate them with. Wolves, eagles, and bears help disperse nutrients by leaving droppings and decaying salmon in the forests, acting as a rich natural fertilizer for the soil.
Around salmon-rich rivers, 40 to 80 percent of the nitrogen in shrubs and trees originates in the open ocean. This has proven beneficial as research has found that trees will grow half as fast in forest patches with no salmon, compared to salmon-rich patches. These forests would still exist without these keystone species, although they would look significantly different.
Access to water and nature are essential components of a healthy wellbeing, however, these natural spaces continue to face the threats and direct consequences of human actions, so much so that we are currently in the sixth mass extinction known as the Anthropocene. Salmon are no stranger to dealing with the harm of humans trying to control their species, and we have demonstrated this across Canada through overfishing, negatively altering their habitat, the use of salmon farms, the effects of climate change, and more.
These actions have caused a great deal of stress and damage to not only the health of salmon and their environment but also to the population of this keystone species.
From 1983 to 2016, Atlantic salmon populations have fallen by more than 50%, and across the country along the west coast, Pacific salmon also face a declining population, evident by how in 2018 and 2019, we saw one of the most devastating salmon returns on record. Even with these alarming numbers, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has decreased their investment in monitoring by over 60% in the last 15 years. These shocking numbers highlight the lack of monitoring and conservation efforts that have been taking place for this iconic keystone species and that we must make changes moving forward in order to protect salmon.
“We have to figure out if we can rebuild the salmon stocks because they’re in a really perilous state right now.”
Indigenous Peoples have been practicing sustainable salmon management since time immemorial, using sustainable harvesting strategies and taking action to keep a healthy environment for this species. They use sex selection when harvesting spawning salmon, making sure that there are females returned to the waters to ensure a healthy population for the future. Indigenous peoples have also taken action to combat the effects of climate change on salmon by creating spawning beds and planting vegetation along the shorelines to help cool the temperature of the water in rivers and to add protection.
“We’re looking at a blue economy by re-establishing some kelp beds, We can create habitat for the salmon about to come up the river system and for them to have shelter when they’re coming out, so they’re not lost to predation.”
They also have held off from fishing in order to help regenerate the population stock, something we have never seen the commercial fishing industry do. Indigenous Peoples have powerful and insightful traditional knowledge on how to sustainably manage and coexist with salmon in order to ensure their future, and we should take steps in learning from them and working with them to apply their knowledge on a larger scale.
Another way that we can help salmon is by increasing on-the-ground monitoring and the number of salmon counts that are being conducted. We need this information to make accurate and informed decisions on the management and conservation of this species. 81% of Central Coast spawning streams have had no data collection since 2018 or prior, and even with a consistent decline in population stocks, Fisheries and Oceans Canada continues to choose to rely upon stock assessment models that only capture data from a few selected streams that are meant to represent entire stock populations. Without proper annual stock assessments of salmon, our understanding of the health and population of this species is a complete guess and therefore our current plans on how to help them may not be the optimal fit.
Another great way to help salmon is to educate yourself on the issues they face, the role that humans play in affecting their livelihood, and how our government is responding to these issues. Knowledge is power and key to making changes for the livelihood of this species. Reach out to local advocacy groups to find out how you can make an impact in your community and what actions you can take to better promote salmon stewardship.
“It might seem strange for a group of people who care about winter sports to run a campaign about salmon. But at Protect Our Winters Canada, we know that salmon are a vitally important species, not just for the health of waterways, but for the climate overall. They contribute to the growth of forests, which are essential carbon sinks and support our biodiversity, ensuring ecosystems stay in balance. That’s why we asked Canadians this year to write to the Minister of Fisheries to demand an end to open net salmon farming, which harms wild fish populations. Winter isn’t just about snow sports - stable seasons are critical to our planetary health. We all need winter, and we all need healthy, functioning ecosystems, which salmon help sustain”
Many of the actions that help protect this species can be implemented in our daily lives and homes; they may not seem like much, but they go a long way in protecting our environment and, in turn, salmon.
Salmon are a keystone species facing many threats as a direct result of human activities. This fish is an essential component of many ecosystems across not only Canada but the world. We must educate ourselves and take action together in order to create a brighter future for salmon. Salmon are a symbol of endurance and community, and we must begin to embody these traits ourselves as we work towards a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future for everyone.
Resources
General:
The Uncertain Future of Fraser River Sockeye
Maritimes:
General 1 — Nova Scotia Salmon Association
Ontario:
Bring Back The Salmon Lake Ontario
Halton Region Salmon & Trout Association
PNW:
Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
References
There's Something Fishy About These Trees ... | Deep Look | KQED
State of North Atlantic Salmon