Yesterday Byrne Creek Streamkeepers helped several classes of grade three children from Nelson Elementary in Burnaby release about 20,000 chum fry into Byrne Creek.
It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, and as teachers, parents, kids and streamkeepers waited for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans truck to arrive from the Bell-Irving Hatchery at Kanaka Creek, we toured the artificial salmon spawning habitat, and the ravine park.
Streamkeepers pointed out indigenous fry and small cutthroat trout, and a wide variety of invasive species that are attacking the creek.
At last the truck arrived, and the fun began. It's heartwarming to see parents and teachers lose their inhibitions and ape the kids in the pure joy of releasing the tiny, 4-5cm fry into the urban wild.
Posted by Paul at April 28, 2004 05:56 PM