Hatchery modernization

Our salmon enhancement strategies have adapted and evolved over time as new science has become available and as the status of salmon populations has changed. Because of this, hatcheries have different objectives today than they did in the past. Historically, hatcheries often prioritized fish for harvest. Modern hatcheries balance objectives, including conserving and rebuilding vulnerable stocks, supporting stock assessment, supporting community involvement and providing salmon for harvest opportunities.

Through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), we are investing in hatchery modernization that aims to strategically and scientifically support conservation, rebuilding, community involvement, assessment and harvest.

We are working to modernize our hatcheries in many ways, including:

• supporting a broader number of stocks in a broader number of areas without increasing our production numbers
• upgrading existing or building new infrastructure to improve operations and increase capacity
• improving our ability to perform scientific research that is relevant to Canadian salmon stocks and infrastructure
• engaging across British Columbia and Yukon on enhancement topics
• improving hatchery oversight, governance and policies
• better coordinating production plans
• improving the ways we plan hatcheries and assess hatchery success