Statement on Fraser River Conservation
Statement in the BC Legislature. Thursday, April 15, 2010
D. Black: It's easy to buy fish at a supermarket without thinking about the process it took to get there. We all benefit from the use of our rivers for fishing and transportation, but too often we don't think about our ability to sustain these rivers.
The importance of the Fraser River to the building of our province and the continued life of our communities cannot be overstated. Archaeological evidence shows traces of occupation by First Nations peoples in the Fraser Basin as far back as 10,000 years ago. Today two-thirds of all British Columbians live in the Fraser Basin.
Sadly, the Fraser came third on this year's list of endangered rivers of B.C. compiled by the Outdoor Recreation Council. Of particular concern is last year's sockeye run, which Mark Angelo, chair of the Rivers Institute at BCIT, says is the lowest return recorded in 52 years. Last year's massive shortfall raises concerns about the long-term survival of fish stocks that have been so crucial to B.C.'s communities for hundreds of years.
There are groups doing tremendous work to protect the Fraser, groups like the Fraser Basin Council, the Rivershed Society of B.C. and the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster, which works to educate the public about the importance of the river.
American photographer and environmental writer Tim Palmer says the "river is the centre of the land, the place where the waters and much more come together. Here is the home of wildlife, the route of explorers and recreation paradise…. Only fragments of our inheritance remain unexploited, but these streams are more valuable than ever."
I hope that both parties in this Legislature can work together to recognize the importance of the Fraser and ensure that its benefits keep flowing for future generations.