Large Pink Salmon Captured during Broodstock Collection
Posted on October 1st, 2007 by Rodney Hsu, webmaster

This 12lb+ male pink salmon was part of this year's Cheakamus River pink salmon recovery program (Photo: Brian Klassen).

While conducting this year's Cheakamus River pink salmon recovery program, staff at the Tenderfoot Salmon Hatchery came across a rather big catch! This exceptionally large male pink salmon weighed in at 12lb 2oz, which was one of the largest pink salmon many have seen in a long time. The average weight of a pink salmon is between 3 and 6lb.

The Cheakamus River pink salmon recovery program is an ongoing effort to re-establish the pink salmon population after the caustic soda spill two years ago. On August 5th 2005, a derailment occurred when a CN Rail train crossed the Cheakamus River near Chance Creek. Several rail cars fell into Cheakamus River, releasing over 100,000 litres of caustic soda that they were carrying at the time.

Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, has an extremely high pH. As a result, a large number of migratory and resident fish were killed. A large percentage of this fish kill includes spawning pink salmon, because the spill took place during their peak runtime. Other victims include adult chinook salmon, juvenile coho and steelhead, sculpin, bull trout and lamprey (see photos).

According to hatchery staff Brian Klassen, the goal of this year's pink salmon recovery program is to produce one million fry. The eggs collected this fall will be incubated at the hatchery until they become fry around March 2008, when they will be released into the Cheakamus River. These juvenile fish will enter Howe Sound and spend almost two years in saltwater before returning in August 2009. This work will most likely continue for a few more cycles.

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