Government of Canada and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation to build new Prince George hatchery for Fraser River Chinook

Pacific salmon have long held cultural, economic, and ecological significance for First Nations peoples and all British Columbians. Climate change, habitat loss, and fishing pressures are causing many salmon populations, such as Fraser River Chinook salmon, to experience serious declines.

Prince George, British Columbia - Pacific salmon have long held cultural, economic, and ecological significance for First Nations peoples and all British Columbians. Climate change, habitat loss, and fishing pressures are causing many salmon populations, such as Fraser River Chinook salmon, to experience serious declines.

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, in partnership with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, announced that the general construction contract has been awarded to IDL Projects Inc. to build the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery. With a contract value of over $38 million, this investment is an important milestone in the effort to conserve and rebuild Fraser River Chinook salmon.

The hatchery will be owned and operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and collaboratively managed with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, with support from Canfor. It will be built on the north bank of the Nechako River, near its confluence with the Fraser River, and in Lheidli T’enneh First Nation territory.

For Lheidli T’enneh, the hatchery project represents the opportunity to provide support for salmon stocks that have been in serious decline. With a focus on sustainability, the hatchery is envisioned to balance the appropriate level of intervention to both maintain salmon biodiversity and broader stewardship objectives through a Government to Government collaboration. Understanding the critical relationship between salmon and all Fraser River First Nations, Lheidli T’enneh recognizes the importance of this hatchery in salmon recovery and the interests of all user groups.