Salmon plays a vital role in the ecosystem. If the population continues to decline, there will be a decrease in predators and an increase in prey, and that’s not a good thing. Wild salmon is also responsible for bringing Marine-Derived Nutrients (MDN) to freshwater. MDN is a vital ingredient for plant and animal development.
What can you do to save wild salmon? Well, there are a couple of things you can do on a personal and a community level.
Be informed
The first step towards saving salmon is learning more about the fish. You need to know how they live, what they eat, where they breed, and their ideal habitat. Also, beware of the watershed you live in and learn about the fish runs in the area. Then share that information with family, friends, and neighbours.
Speak up
The next step towards saving salmon is finding like-minded people. These could be individuals who will whistle blow, participate in habitat rehabilitation, and volunteer in hatcheries. And you don’t need a lot of money to support this noble cause. Just showing up may be enough.
Be careful with household chemicals
Things like antifreeze, motor oil, and pesticides threaten the very existence of wild salmon. These chemicals find their way to rivers, polluting the breeding areas that salmon love. As a result, eggs don’t hatch, and the few that do die prematurely. That makes the adult salmon hang around in rivers for a longer time than usual. When that happens, predators in the ocean go hungry and pay the ultimate price – life.
Eat salmon
Eating salmon may seem outrageous, especially when having a conversation about saving it. But it makes a lot of sense. Most hatcheries make money by selling this nutritious fish. They later invest in engineering or restoring habitats to increase wild stocks.