Decade of Protection Strengthens Future for Salmon

A decade after Indigenous leaders secured protections for Lelu Island and its surrounding estuary, communities in Canada are celebrating continued stewardship efforts that help safeguard one of the country’s most important salmon habitats.

“Salmon do something extraordinary,” said Julia Hill, Executive Director of SkeenaWild. “They connect ecosystems, communities, cultures and generations.”

The Lelu Island Declaration, signed in 2016 by Indigenous leaders and regional allies, protected vital salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary from industrial development. The following year, plans for a major liquefied natural gas terminal were cancelled, and a development moratorium was later established over the sensitive area. Today, Indigenous Nations, scientists, conservation groups and government agencies continue to work together to monitor and steward the watershed. Each year, hundreds of millions of young salmon migrate through the estuary on their journey to the Pacific Ocean, supporting ecosystems, cultures and livelihoods across the region. The anniversary gathering highlighted both the success of long-term collaboration and a shared commitment to ensuring healthy salmon populations for future generations.