The Fish
The waters of Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound support
some 400 species of fish, including prized salmon, herring,
halibut, rockfish, sablefish and oolichan. Each one plays
an important role in the intricate marine ecosystem of this
coast. The fish also help maintain the economy in many coastal
communities where fishing is a mainstay. The second and third
largest herring fisheries in B.C. occur in an area that could
be opened to oil and gas development.
Of
all the fish species, salmon has iconic status in British
Columbia because of its importance to First Nations people,
sport and commercial fishermen and to the environment. Salmon
provide a crucial link between marine and freshwater habitats
and has been identified as a keystone species because it supports
a diversity of marine and terrestrial life and contributes
to the fertility of the coastal forest ecosystem. Approximately
650 major salmon spawning streams are found along B.C.’s
central and northern coast. With offshore oil and gas development,
salmon would be highly vulnerable. While, the impacts of seismic
testing is still unknown, pink salmon runs in Alaska are still
recuperating 14 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill tarnished
the coastline.
For
more information about the importance of salmon to the ecosystem
click here.
For more information about the impacts of the Exxon Valdez
oil spill click here.
The coast of B.C. is renowned for valuable and delicious
shellfish species like shrimp, crab, clams, scallops, mussels,
oysters, geoducks and sea urchins. In addition to their ecological
value, these crustaceans support commercial fisheries that
supply important international markets, not to mention, a
vital and historic food fishery for First Nations people.
