Ripple Effect

A series of animated videos aimed at conserving salmon.

Art by Michael Mann.

A killer future

Southern Resident killer whales are at a critical crossroads. Their future depends on the choices we make today. These choices will either push them closer to extinction or put them on a path to recovery. These whales rely almost entirely on Chinook salmon, yet they often struggle to find enough food, especially in the spring after a lean winter. Rising ship traffic has made the Salish Sea so noisy that whales struggle to use echolocation to hunt and communicate. At the same time, toxic contaminants in their environment threaten the growth and survival of calves. By restoring Chinook salmon, reducing underwater noise, and stopping pollution there is still time to protect these iconic animals for generations to come.

Honey I shrunk the Chinook

A century ago, Chinook salmon could weigh over 70 pounds. Today, a 30 pound Chinook is considered a big catch. Modern fishing practices have shaped salmon evolution over time, leading fish to mature earlier and at smaller sizes. Discover how shifting toward terminal fishing could help restore the size and strength of these iconic fish and the ecosystems that depend on them.

Our wild dream

Wild Pacific salmon are the foundation of coastal ecosystems in British Columbia. Raincoast is focused on not only recovering wild salmon, but seeing them thrive. We use scientific research, informed advocacy, and collaboration to advance conservation solutions. We have an unwavering commitment to see wild salmon thrive in wild rivers.

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The problem with hatcheries, and how we can fix it

Hatcheries in BC began in earnest in the 1970s as a response to the declining numbers of wild salmon due to overfishing and habitat loss. Hatcheries have allowed us to produce fish artificially without having to question how we manage salmon or their habitat.

Is there something wrong with the way we fish?

Along with habitat loss and climate change, overfishing is widely considered a key driver of the decline in wild salmon. To fix this problem, we can look to fishing methods that have been practiced for generations, and still are used successfully to this day: terminal fisheries. With terminal fisheries, often placed at the mouth or within a river, fishers can control which species of salmon they are catching, and be able to only catch salmon from populations that are thriving.

A better, older way to fish