Shae Denny finds it hard to believe that local conservation efforts in Cape Breton are gaining international recognition. Denny, an aquatic programs manager at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, expressed the significance of this recognition, emphasizing the longstanding role of their community as land stewards.
In December, the United Nations acknowledged a collaborative seven-year project involving scientists, Indigenous groups, and volunteers aimed at restoring the Atlantic salmon population in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The initiative led by Parks Canada was honored with a World Restoration Flagship, recognizing it as one of the most promising large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts globally.
Dubbed Respectful Returns and initiated in 2010, the project is a joint effort between Parks Canada, Indigenous communities, and local partners to revitalize rivers and streams across the nation. The project has successfully restored over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways in seven national parks.
Denny, a member of the Eskasoni First Nation, highlighted that the Mi’kmaq community identified the decline in salmon stocks in Cape Breton as early as the 1950s, leading to the establishment of a salmon advisory committee in collaboration with Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and local river associations.
The restoration program in Cape Breton Highlands National Park commenced in 2019 after years of significant declines in the salmon population. Park ecologist Sarah Penney revealed that salmon counts had dropped from around 75 adult fish in the 1980s to just 10 by the early 2000s due to high mortality rates among young salmon before they could survive in the ocean.
To address this issue, Parks Canada and its partners began capturing juvenile salmon from Chéticamp River and Clyburn Brook each spring, nurturing them in captivity until they were ready to be released back into the wild. This hands-on approach proved successful, with salmon numbers reaching the conservation benchmark of 75 for the first time in three decades.
While Parks Canada accepted the prestigious flagship recognition in December, an event held on July 16 honored four key groups in Cape Breton: the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and local salmon associations along Chéticamp and Margaree rivers. Bill Haley, vice-president of the Margaree Salmon Association, highlighted the significance of being acknowledged alongside global conservation initiatives, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project.
The global award ceremony celebrated the collective efforts that have led to the successful restoration of the salmon population in Cape Breton, underscoring the importance of partnerships and community engagement in achieving conservation goals.