Canada is failing to adequately monitor its Pacific salmon population, as it prioritises industry development over decades-old conservation pledges.

The monitoring of salmon spawning populations has dropped 32% since Canada first adopted its Wild Salmon Policy 20 years ago, according to new research from Simon Fraser University.

This policy promised a “conservation-first” approach, grounded in science. But lack of sufficient data means that scientists are unable to assess the wellbeing of nearly half (44%) of Canada’s Pacific salmon populations.

“Without reliable monitoring, it becomes impossible for resource managers to decide when fisheries should open or close, assess whether conservation measures are needed, or detect when salmon populations are slipping toward extinction,” said Michael Price, lead author of the study and adjunct professor in SFU’s Department of Biological Sciences.

The reliable return of adult pacific salmon to the freshwaters in British Columbia is critical for the local ecosystems, cultures and economies. The fish play a vital role in transporting marine nutrients into forests and rivers, supporting indigenous cultures and traditional harvests, and underpin fisheries that generate billions of dollars annually.

According to Price, salmon populations are facing the dual threat of climate change, and government policies which increasingly favour rapid industrial development.

Last June Canada’s federal government passed the One Canadian Economy Act, which will enable the rapid approval of industrial projects deemed in the national interest.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government’s recent federal budget reduced funding to Fisheries and Oceans Canada by $544 million over four years, constraining the agency responsible for environmental monitoring and salmon conservation.

“When development accelerates while monitoring declines, decisions around development will be made without a clear picture of what is being put at risk – or what the damage may be once a project is completed,” Price said.

He added, “We need to see salmon monitoring prioritised, which means rebuilding monitoring programs, strengthening Indigenous-led and community-based data collection, and safeguarding baseline ecological information.”

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