Stop the Spread of Spiny-ray Invasive Fish Species

Our project objective was to address the looming threat of Alien Invasive Fish Species (AIFS) through a multi-pronged, multi-agency, multi-NGO approach  which included prevention, early detection and rapid response leading to a management plan.  Preventative knowledge and understanding of the consequences to salmonid populations and the ecosystems which support them along with early detection inventories to determine the range of AIFS in the Thompson/Shuswap are the keys to addressing AIFS issues now if they are to be controlled in the future.  To this end, field inventories were taken through collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Little Shuswap Band and the Spallumcheen Band.  The early detection of AIFS in one watershed now enables rapid response.  To prevent further spread of AIFS, curriculum was developed and delivered to schools in our three local school districts (19, 22, & 83).  Salmon based, AIFS education was also delivered to the teachers and students involved in DFO’s Salmonids in the Classroom program during field trips to the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre (KIC).  The few thousand summer visitors to KIC were also versed in salmon based knowledge and engaged in AIFS issues.