Cowichan River conservation efforts focus on cleanup and salmon protection

Community efforts are underway to protect the Cowichan River watershed through both environmental cleanup and conservation advocacy. The 16th annual Lower Cowichan River Cleanup is scheduled for August 23, organized by the Cowichan Watershed Board, Cowichan Tribes, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Last year, volunteers removed 1,182 kg of garbage from over 15 km of the river.

In a separate conservation effort, Bob Crandall, president of the Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society and Hatchery, is calling for stricter oversight regarding the use of butterfly nets by children. Crandall expressed concern that these nets are being marketed as toys for catching wild fish, which can lead to the accidental death of juvenile salmonids, such as coho and Chinook salmon, particularly during summer droughts. He is advocating that retailers provide information on Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada fish salvage licences to prevent the recreational capture of young fish that volunteer teams work to rescue from shrinking pools.