The Canadian government has allocated over $50 million in contracts for the establishment of three new hatcheries in British Columbia to support the conservation of salmon populations.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has revealed that these projects will be situated on traditional lands of the First Nations or managed by local indigenous communities.
The primary contract, totaling $38 million, will fund the construction of the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery near the junction of the Nechako and Fraser rivers in Prince George, British Columbia, falling within the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation’s territory.
In addition, Ottawa has pledged two contracts valued at approximately $7.5 million each for the creation of a hatchery near Hanceville in central B.C. and for the further development of the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery within the Skeena River system in northwestern British Columbia.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson emphasized in a statement that while the federal government will own and manage the Upper Fraser hatchery, operations at the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery will be a collaborative effort with the Gitanyow First Nation.
Upon completion, the hatchery near Hanceville, located on the traditional lands of the Tŝilhqot’in First Nation, will be overseen by the indigenous community.
Collectively, these three facilities are anticipated to have the capacity to nurture over one million juvenile Chinook and sockeye salmon on an annual basis.
Published by The Canadian Press on August 25, 2026.
