We are on the edge a salmon crisis on the West Coast. California and Oregon have shut down their Chinook salmon fishing for the first time in 150 years, and fisherman are seeking disaster relief. What does this mean for us in BC?

A generation ago, there were so many salmon to be had in Vancouver’s bay there was an annual salmon derby. “You know, the City of Vancouver even put salmon on its first coat of arms. But in a generation we’ve gone from unbelievable abundance to a crisis. We take our salmon for granted.”

As consumers, we now have to be even more aware. It is no longer just as black and white as asking if the salmon is wild or sustainably farmed – we now need to look for fish that are also abundant, resilient, and caught with minimum by-catch. Ocean sustainability labels on our food are still a relatively new concept, and in their early adaption stage. Unlike organic, you won’t find an Ocean Wise logo at Safeway.

A good first step is to engage your local fishmonger in dialouge about ocean sustainability. Ask questions about where your salmon is coming from this year, before consuming it. As a post in the Urban Diner states “it is going to be a rough year”.

First Nations have been asked to ration their Fraser River sockeye catch this year. They normally catch a million per season, but with the historical average of 4.4 million down to a projected low of 1.7 million and a million needed to survive for a successful spawn, it’s going to be a rough year.

I applaud that Leading Vancouver chefs are turning to sustainable sources for their fish. Look for restaurants and markets that display the Ocean Wise logo with their seafood choices. Also, Rain Coast Trading canned salmon and tuna embrace environmental stewardship and are sustainable options.