Sockeye Salmon, Sakinaw population: Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act

Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides legal protection for wildlife species at risk to conserve biological diversity. It also acknowledges that all Canadians have a role to play in the conservation of wildlife species.

Before deciding whether the Sakinaw Lake population of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka; hereafter Sakinaw Sockeye) will be added to the List of Species at Risk as Endangered, we would like to hear your opinion, comments, and suggestions regarding the possible ecological, cultural, social and economic impacts of listing or not listing this species under SARA.

Join in: How to participate

Share your ideas online

The Government of Canada is engaging with Canadians to potentially add Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) to the List of Species at Risk as Endangered.

Please fill out the online survey. Thank you.

Adding a species to the List of Species at Risk

The process of listing a species under SARA consists of several steps: it begins with a status assessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and ends with a Government of Canada decision on whether or not to add a species to the List of Species at Risk. Public engagement is conducted to gather the opinions of Canadians and is an important step in this process.

Facts about Sakinaw Sockeye

Sakinaw Sockeye inhabit Sakinaw Lake on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Similar to other Pacific sockeye salmon, they migrate to the Northeast Pacific Ocean to feed before returning to their native waters to spawn. Their marine migratory path is primarily through Johnstone Strait, and adults return to the Lake between June and September. Spawning mostly occurs from mid-November to mid-December and fry emerge the following spring. Sakinaw Sockeye have a 4 year generation time, spending a total of 2 winters at sea.

Sakinaw Sockeye are locally adapted to their environment and differ from other sockeye salmon in terms of their early and extended river-entry timing and extended lake residence prior to spawning. Adults are also smaller compared to other sockeye salmon and experience lower fecundity and smaller egg size, while smolts are generally larger in size.

Smolts and returning adults are counted annually as they swim through a fishway located at the outfall of Sakinaw Lake. From 2019-2022 (1 generation) an average of 84 adults returned annually. Sakinaw Sockeye are heavily supported by a captive breeding program based at Rosewall Creek Hatchery that ensures their continued survival. Sakinaw Lake also lies within the territory (swiya) of the shíshálh Nation, who contribute significantly to recovery efforts for this population.

Key questions for discussion

Who assigned the Endangered status to Sakinaw Sockeye?

COSEWIC is an independent committee of experts that assesses which wildlife species are in some danger of disappearing from Canada and assigns a status to these species. It conducts its assessments based on the best available information including scientific data, local ecological knowledge, and Indigenous Knowledge. COSEWIC assessed this population as Endangered in 2002, 2003, and 2006, and the Government of Canada declined listing Sakinaw Sockeye in SARA in 2005 and 2007. Most recently, COSEWIC reassessed this population as Endangered in 2016, initiating the current SARA listing process. Under SARA, an Endangered species is defined as 1 that is facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Why are Sakinaw Sockeye at risk?

Sakinaw Sockeye experienced a large decline in the 1980s and 1990s due to low ocean survival and over-fishing. Using brood stock from Sakinaw Lake, a captive-breeding program was started in 2000 to support the population. Despite this, no mating pairs returned from 2006 to 2009 and all Sakinaw Sockeye today are descendants of hatchery fish.

Recovery continues to be primarily impacted by changing ocean conditions (resulting in low marine survival) and high levels of predation, competition and parasitism. The marine survival rate is not currently high enough to sustain the population, so the hatchery program is necessary to support survival. Human induced threats to Sakinaw Sockeye include: pollution, habitat degradation and fishing.

If a species is listed under the Species at Risk Act

If this population is listed as Endangered under SARA, prohibitions would immediately come into effect in Canada, making it illegal to kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell, or trade Sakinaw Sockeye. Activities affecting the species or its critical habitat may be permitted or exempted under SARA, provided certain purposes and conditions are met. If recovery is feasible, a recovery strategy would be developed and further measures to address known threats may be identified in a subsequent action plan. Critical habitat (the habitat necessary for survival or recovery of Sakinaw Sockeye) would be identified, to the extent possible, in a recovery strategy and protected from destruction. Regardless of the SARA listing decision, Sakinaw Sockeye will continue to receive protection under the Fisheries Act.

Related information

Before completing this survey, you may wish to review the following background information found at the links below:

• COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report (2016)
• Recovery Potential Assessment (2018)
• Management Scenarios Summary
• Socioeconomic Analysis Summary
• Other information can be found on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Contact us
Species at Risk Program, Pacific Region
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3S4
DFO.PACSAR-LEPPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca