All of us who live around the upper Bay of Fundy can play a role in trying to help the salmon recover and in staving off possible extinction. Here is a checklist of things you can do:
1. Check out the rivers in your area. Find out which rivers and streams near you once had salmon. Are there any salmon left in those rivers and streams (the local fisheries office may be able to help)?
2. See if they've been affected by development. Is the quality of the rivers in your area still good enough to support salmon? Has the river system been affected by commercial or rural development? Are there dams or other barriers to migration? If so, is there a watershed management plan to protect the quality of the river.
3. Monitor the quality of the river. If you're not sure about the quality of the river, are there groups or individuals who can monitor the quality of the water? Water quality depends on things such as temperature, sediments, acidity, oxygen levels, etc. Are you prepared to help with a river monitoring program to keep watch on the quality of your water? This may mean offering to help existing groups, or if there are no groups in your area, you may want to set up your own river monitoring program. You can ask your municipality, regional development office, or local DFO office for help. Potential funding sources for environmental programs can be found in Environment Canada's Green Source (http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/grnsrc/index_e.cfm).
4. Learn about reintroduction programs. Have there been any releases of salmon into your river (through a reintroduction program)? If yes, will these continue into the future? If not, why not? Check with your local DFO office for information. Remember, the Atlantic salmon is the responsibility of the federal government.
5. Find out more - If you are interested in finding out more about what is causing the disappearance of the Atlantic salmon, check out the Atlantic Salmon Federation or Fundy Biosphere Initiative, or write the Minister of Fisheries. As the research uncovers more about the near extinction of the Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon, these sources will provide updates.