We, the undersigned hereby petition the Government of Canada to ACT NOW to address the threats endangering the Fraser River in British Columbia. We further petition the Government of Canada to designate the islands within the Heart of the Fraser River an “ecologically significant area."

The critical threats to the Might Fraser River have hit a new all-time high in 2019.  "The impacts of slides, habitat damage, and plummeting fish stocks will require political WILL and decisive ACTION." Mark Angelo, chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council (ORC) of BC." The Fraser River is critically endangered; the most endangered river in BC if not in all of Canada.

The impact of the Big Bar slide on fish passage, land-clearing, the potential extinction of the steelhead, dismal salmon returns, climate change, and the need to restore damaged habitats, all contribute. The impact of these issues on the river's health exceed those in any year since the ORC began compiling data 40 years ago.

The threats and pressures confronting the river can be addressed if there is a WILL, but we must ACT QUICKLY and decisively.  

Big Bar slide blocked fish passage for salmon returning to key Fraser River tributaries. Many of the Fraser’s sockeye stocks are dependent on tributaries in the northern part of the river’s drainage as are many chinoock population.

Extensive land clearing in ‘Heart of the Fraser’ between Hope and Mission have taken out huge swaths of habitat essential to both sturgeon and salmon around key islands such as Herrling, Carey and Strawberry.

While efforts are underway to restore some of these key private lands by acquiring them, one of the most important things governments can do now is to designate the islands within the Heart of the Fraser as an “ecologically significant area.”

The Heart of the Fraser sustains almost 30 species of fish as well as B.C.’s largest single spawning run of salmon along with its finest sturgeon spawning habitat. It’s key rearing habitat for millions of young salmon, especially chinook which provide the primary food source for southern resident killer whales.

“The threats facing the Fraser River reached a new zenith this past year and yet, there is the potential to rectify many of these if the desire exists. We must do more to protect what is Canada’s most important fish habitat."

ACT NOW!!