News
From the Hatchery to Nature
After raising them from eggs, Shawnigan students headed to the creeks that cross our campus last week to release tiny coho salmon fry into the wild.
While it marks the beginning of a journey for the little fish, it also marks the end of several months of care the Shawnigan students in Science 9 and Environmental Science 11 and 12 have put into raising them in the Mark Hobson Hatchery.
That began last fall, when salmon from Hartl Creek were used as broodstock: eggs were harvested from the females and fertilized with semen from the males. Those eggs hatched into alevin, then grew into fry in March, at which point they were transferred into larger tanks of water and cared for until they were ready for release into Hartl and Shawnigan creeks.
Fall 2024 saw a huge run of spawning salmon in the streams and rivers of Vancouver Island. That included the creeks on campus, which was proof of the success of the Mark Hobson Hatchery and the many students who have put in work over the decades.
Before the fish were released, the Grade 11 Environmental Science classes studied the creeks to determine what locations would give the fry the best chances of survival based on water depth, flow, sun exposure, shade, security and space to grow.
The fry will continue to grow in fresh water nearby for about two years. Then they will head into the ocean to continue the life cycle. Those who survive should return in 2029 to spawn in the creeks where they were released.
Although many schools in coastal BC have programs that give students a glimpse into the lives of young salmon, including releases, Shawnigan’s Hatchery is a unique experiential learning opportunity for our students. The students aren’t the only ones who benefit – the program contributes to the recreational salmon fishery, and feeds animals like bears and orcas who might intercept the salmon on their way back to spawn.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
