Humans might not like record-setting rainfalls but coho salmon off the shores of Bowen Island are benefitting from it.
Coho salmon spawn in fresh water, says Tim Pardee, the president of the volunteer-based Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club.
The rain that has been washing down the island’s steep terrain into Mannion Bay has reduced the bay’s salinity levels. This, in turn, has attracted more of the spawning fish.
“We seem to be getting more coho coming into the lagoon,” Pardee says. “If you’re a salmon, you sense [the fresh water] and think that this is where I have to be.”
As well, coho are very strong swimmers so they’re not daunted by the heavier waterflow down Bowen’s many creeks.
The main danger fish face is when rivers and lakes overflow their banks. Once the water recedes, there’s the risk that they’ll get stranded in an environment that’s not conducive to their survival.
The wildlife club has fish traps. When coho come into the trap, club members then relocate them to spawning areas such as Miller Creek.
The club’s hatchery has been dormant this fall as members follow salmons’ normal spawning cycle. Pardee says the volunteers are getting ready to open it up in advance of the arrival of eggs either in late December or early January.
