The Story

The Indigenous people of the west coast of B.C. have depended on Herring as a food source for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows that they were using nets, rakes and fish traps to harvest these animals, as well as practicing sustainable harvesting by laying branches and kelp to collect their eggs also known as roe.

The Pacific Herring is not only vital to the Indigenous people, but to the entire aquatic food web. Unfortunately, the Herring are under threat from multiple sources. Overfishing, loss of habitat, pollution and microplastics, all of these things are adding to the problem and now there’s only one major spawning area left located in the Strait of Georgia off the west coast of Canada.

Conservancy Hornby Island (CHI) holds a yearly Herring Festival to bring awareness of the problem. Indigenous and non indigenous experts speak about the solutions people are working on to protect herring in their communities. Jim Shortreed, who is a long time herring researcher, takes us on a tour of the last major spawning ground. Doug Neasloss from the Kiasoo/Xia’xais Nation explains how his Nation created a Marine protected area in their traditional territory. We also talk to members of the Tsleil Waututh Nation about their restoration of their herring spawning ground through key partnerships in and around their community.

The Location

West Coast of Canada
West Coast of Canada
Watch on APTN
beginning January 9, 2025