^{Rivers Inlet Salmon Enhancement &} The Percy Walkus Enhancement Facility

Established in 2016 the Percy Walkus Hatchery plays a key role in conserving salmon at Rivers Inlet in the Central Coast region of British Columbia. From 1981-1994 a small hatchery facility did exist in the area, but for over two decades the site stood idle. With significant support from private donors, the Wuikinuxv First Nation, the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) and the Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO)’s Salmon Enhancement Program, the Percy Walkus facility was re-developed in the Wuikinuxv Village on the Wanukv (Wannock) River. The establishment of this site has enabled the repatriation of the enhancement of local salmon back to the Wuikinuxv First Nation.

Prior to the Percy Walkus hatchery, enhanced salmon stocks were cultured at Snootli Hatchery in Bella Coola. The new location in the Wuikinuxv Village enables quick access to Rivers Inlet, an area that includes the Kilbella and Chuckwalla Rivers, and the Wanukv River. Having a hatchery facility in such close proximity to these rivers has not only brought jobs to the community but enabled major strides in enhancing fish stocks in these rivers which are critical to BC’s sport fishing industry as well as the Wuikinuxv First Nation.

The hatchery is focused on:

Rebuilding vulnerable Rivers Inlet salmon stocks including Chinook, Coho and Chum

Contributing to stock assessment initiatives through marking and enumeration

Augmenting stocks where appropriate to allow for local sustainable harvest opportunities

Utilizing skilled Wuikinuxv technicians and building capacity within the community

Improving and protecting fish habitats

The hatchery has made a significant impact on the health of local salmon and the entire community is proud of the excellent work being done. Since the hatchery opened over 1.4 million big, healthy Chinook salmon smolts have been released and it is gratifying to see these return as adults. Some of the work being done includes:

Breeding the world famous, large body Wanukv Chinook salmon that draw sports fishers who covet the opportunity to capture a ‘Tyee’ size fish. The hatchery enhancement program attempts to “put back” what might be taken in the sport fishery as well as to enumerate and monitor returning adults to ensure longer term sustainability.

Tagging and monitoring fish, especially in the Chuckwalla and Kilbella Rivers where estimated adult returns are less than 5% of historic abundance. The ability to track and monitor adults through fisheries and during brookstock collection will support the management and enhancement of these Chinook.

Continuing to support the Chum Program in the Wanukv (Wannock) River. The Chum population was decimated by flooding in the late 1980s and early 1990s and has not yet recovered. The Percy Walkus hatchery team, and community stakeholders, can direct more efforts towards recovery through enhancement while trying to identify other factors limiting survival.

A small enhancement program was undertaken with Coho salmon in Johnston Creek from 2007-2011 that resulted in improved understanding of the life history, migration route and spawning distribution in the river. The team will also revisit Coho enhancement either at Johnston Creek stock or another stock of interest in Rivers Inlet.