Salmon Enhancement Society
Tahsis Salmon Enhancement Society
Recent Hatchery news: Recreational Fishery Awards for 2014...
The Tahsis Salmon Enhancement Society raises and releases salmon each year ensuring the survival of the species. On April 13, 2013, the President of the Society, Frank Collins, and the Secretary/Treasurer, Lucille Collins, toured the Tahsis hatchery with MLA, Claire Trevena.
Frank Collins led the tour showing different aspects of the hatchery while imparting his vast knowledge. Claire Trevena was extremely interested and asked many questions. “It’s amazing what you have done here” said Claire.
With the help of many volunteers, the Tahsis fish hatchery is capable of raising and releasing 300,000 Chinook each year. It is because of these volunteers that the Salmon Enhancement Program can carry on into the future. In Tahsis these volunteers are Frank and Lucille Collins, Don Beamin, Bill Dwuilit, Roger Minor, Mogens Madsen and Richard Illes. “We work closely with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans” said Lucille.
The Tahsis Salmonoid program began in 1983 with only six Chinook in the Tahsis River. Les Dowding, a village employee, received permission to build the hatchery on Village property. The hatchery now holds the honorary name ‘Les Dowding Memorial Hatchery’ after this original founder. The hatcheries goal is to rebuild vulnerable salmon stocks and to improve fish habitat to sustain the salmon population. The entire process could not be maintained without the help of many. “We get a lot of help from a lot of people and from the Conuma Hatchery, especially technical support” said Frank Collins. “It’s a very impressive project” said Claire Trevena. “It’s because there are a lot of very committed people involved” said Lucille Collins.