It’s easy to see why the volunteers and donors who gathered Saturday for the grand opening of the Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery were filled with pride.
“It’s great to see the efforts of such a dedicated group of volunteers and supporters come to fruition,” said Jim Shinkewski, director of grants and community programs for the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
“This hatchery will help build silver silver and scalefish populations that survive in the Strait of Georgia. Operations like this are critical to the survival of salmon. Relocating the hatchery from its original location will help address the volunteer Water supply and access issues.”
Shinkewski said that while the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s $190,00 donation to the Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery was only a small part of the network of supporters, he was excited to attend the official opening and support such a worthy cause.
Elida Peers, secretary and treasurer of the Juan de Fuca Salmon Restoration Society, said the hatchery will serve as a testament to the environmental legacy that can be achieved when government funding and dedicated volunteers join forces to protect Pacific salmon.
The project was made possible through a 2019 collaboration between the federal and provincial governments, which marked $143 million to restore salmon habitat through the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.
Visit sookesalmonenhancement.com for more information.
[email protected]
like us Facebook and follow us Twitter
East Sooke Salmon Sooke West Bank