Collaborative efforts drive Pacific salmon conservation under PSSI

A big part of realizing better outcomes for Pacific salmon, salmon habitat, and ecosystems involves building partnerships and working together. We can’t do this alone. Since launching the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) in June 2021, we’ve been connecting with various groups to find ways to tackle the ongoing decline of Pacific salmon. These groups include First Nations and Indigenous organizations, governments at all levels, harvesters, environmental organizations, stewardship groups, and scientists. These conversations are crucial. They help shape our plans and programs, ensuring that we focus on the most pressing conservation and rebuilding actions that will have the greatest benefit for wild Pacific salmon, now and into the future.

In the early stages of PSSI engagement, we concentrated on building knowledge and understanding of the initiative. We introduced the PSSI Strategic Framework on the Let’s Talk Pacific Salmon platform to engage the public. Initially, we held over 80 meetings to explain PSSI’s vision, goals, and engagement approach. These discussions played a key role in shaping the planning and implementation of PSSI.

We also held over 100 targeted meetings with Indigenous groups, the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders. These meetings explored how PSSI contributes to broader salmon conservation and rebuilding efforts and provided more detailed information about ongoing activities and organizational changes aimed at developing a more integrated approach to salmon management. We also identified opportunities for better collaboration, particularly in aligning PSSI implementation with Indigenous salmon stewardship priorities. Engagements took place at regional and sub-regional levels, including direct discussions with groups interested in ongoing collaboration on shared priorities.

In addition to the partnerships we have developed prior to PSSI, we have been working on new ways to engage and collaborate on Pacific salmon conservation and rebuilding throughout B.C. and Yukon with First Nations, as well as provincial and territorial governments. For example, on June 21, 2024, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C. signed the Trilateral Accord to Address the Decline of Wild Pacific Salmon, which establishes a collaborative process between the three parties to align and coordinate work on shared wild Pacific salmon recovery priorities. Jointly developed priority areas of focus include climate adaptation, ecosystem monitoring, habitat restoration, recovery plans and watershed security.

While most PSSI projects benefit Pacific salmon stocks in both B.C. and the Yukon, we have initiated several targeted efforts specifically for the Yukon area and support for community salmon priorities and interests. We have also provided funding to support the joint Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee to engage and collaborate on Pacific salmon rebuilding efforts in the Yukon.

Related links

• Trilateral declaration on the urgent need to address wild Pacific salmon populations in British Columbia
• Let's Talk Pacific Salmon: PSSI Strategic Framework