Salmonid Program
The Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) involves a large number of students in School District 73. The students are taught about the life cycle of salmon and the needs of these fish at the main stages of their lives. Ideas such as environmental needs, habitat concerns, watersheds and industrial, agricultural, and municipal activities in them, and the role of an informed public are introduced in the classroom.
In schools, students involved with the SEP study the life stages of salmon with hands-on care of living salmon. This begins with the set-up of an incubator (aquarium) and actual taking of eggs and milt from adult salmon. It continues with the fertilization of the eggs and the waiting period necessary as eggs develop into "eyed-eggs" and on to hatch. As these alevin develop into fry, water quality tests, water exchanges, and feeding become necessary. The hands-on process in classrooms ends with release of the fry into designated streams.
This program provides children with opportunities to become involved with and interested in, the preservation and enhancement of a species of fish that is tremendously important to the economy and life-style of British Columbia.