Grade 5/6 students from William Konkin Elementary recently raised and released young coho salmon fry into Babine Lake, with support and guidance from BC Fisheries.
The project began with 125 coho eggs and ended with the release of 97 fry at Lions Beach on May 20. The initiative tied directly into the BC curriculum and gave students a hands-on opportunity to learn about ecosystems, watersheds, biodiversity, and salmon anatomy.
“To raise the salmon, students were given activities to activate their knowledge,” said teacher David Hutton. “Students were thrilled to be a part of the program. For many, it was their first opportunity to raise and release salmon.”
Inclusive education teacher Melissa Mills also praised the experience. “The salmon release field trip day is very fun and educational,” she said. “The Fisheries offer wonderful hands-on learning activities that really help the learners understand and retain the information about salmon and their habitats. The experience of naming and gently releasing the salmon into the stream is meaningful and fun.”
Students reflected on the emotional impact of raising the salmon and releasing them back into the wild.
“The biggest lesson I learned from raising the salmon was how sensitive they are,” said Annunaki, grade 6. “If they eat too much, they die. If it gets too dirty in the tank, they die. The thing that surprised me was that so many die in the wild and how they know to come back to the place they were born. My favourite part was probably getting to release them—and getting to name them. The day I released the salmon, I felt excited and kind of sad because they would almost all die. I was also cold because it was raining so much.”
Another student, Jade, grade 6, shared that the project offered a broader perspective.
“The biggest lesson I learned was that you're not the only one who is in this world,” she said. “The most surprising thing over the months we had them was that they grew big in such a short time. The most fun part was feeding them and checking on them—to see them grow. It was sad releasing our coho salmon because of how long we had them for, and we had a big connection with them.”
Max, grade 6, summed up the experience with a lesson in patience and care.
“If you put time into something, it will come back to you. It was overall a very fun experience—not just releasing the salmon but raising them. Watching them grow in front of your eyes and feeding them was fun, but a bit sad, knowing the ones I released probably will not come back.”
Though only two out of every 100 salmon eggs survive to become spawners, the students said the experience was both meaningful and unforgettable.
