Over a century of human development in the Lower Mainland and resulting recent weather patterns have proven damaging to salmon populations connected to the region, according to regional sources.
To help explain the risk, CIVL Radio interviewed John Vissers, a long-time activist and president of the Fraser Valley Conservatory.
“In the last hundred years, we’ve drained and eradicated close to ninety percent of these wetlands in the Fraser Valley,” said Vissers.
He explained that, historically, wetlands acted as natural regulators for flooding and drought conditions. Equally, Vissers said wetlands provide a crucial protected habitat for juvenile salmon in the ages between hatching and swimming towards the ocean.
“The wetlands absorbed the shock of [flooding and droughts], and we’ve lost that ability.”
Listen to the complete interview for details on how salmon in the region are affected by human intervention and what Vissers and others are doing to mitigate the effects.
