Over 190 species of plants and animals depend on salmon: from algae and mosses to bears, whales and people. For salmon to survive and thrive, these genetically diverse fish need access to healthy habitat, food, good water quality and enough water in streams. Achieving healthy, sustainable and naturally diverse Pacific salmon stocks requires time, money and dedicated people.

In the past 20 years, through several programs, PSF has filled, and continues to fill, many of these needs.

PSF continues to raise funds and direct funding to grassroots, volunteer and community driven projects focused on the conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon. PSF supports research and science, then integrates this knowledge into program plans at the community and watershed level. PSF works with First Nations, private companies, educational institutions, non-profit groups, all levels of government, and commercial and recreational anglers to bring salmon back to our streams.

"Pacific Salmon Foundation's leadership has been critical in British Columbia, and it will continue to be in the future. PSF has always recognized two things: that the salmon are at the heart of our province's spirit and our sense of natural beauty, and also communities are the critical component in making sure we protect them, enhance their habitat and ensure future generations benefit from a relationship with salmon that is equivalent to all the rest of us." - Premier Gordon Campbell, May 2006

PSF was founded as a non-profit charity in 1989. The Community Salmon Program was soon implemented through part proceeds of the newly created DFO Salmon Conservation Stamp. This was the beginning of a 20 year relationship between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, PSF and BC communities.

PSF's work over the past 20 years demonstrates clearly that investing in people, communities and capacity is the key to ensuring healthy, sustainable and diverse salmon populations today and in the future.

The Future

2006 saw PSF embark on a large multi-year initiative called the Fraser Salmon & Watersheds Program. With funding from the Provincial Living Rivers Trust, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society, and in partnership with the Fraser Basin Council, PSF leveraged this support and initiated several new alliances with corporate and individual supporters.

Today, PSF is working on inspiring behavior change for the benefit of salmon through the Fraser Salmon & Watersheds Program. We are playing a key role in the development of policy and salmon management in the greatest salmon watershed in the world. We are striving to be a strong supporter of innovative science and we continue to build on the impacts we have had conserving salmon. We are now working to target how people in their everyday lives can support salmon and their watersheds.

Our combined efforts have created ripples that extend beyond tomorrow. We can help salmon survive and thrive, and you can help.

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Hope to see you at the event -- help support BC salmon conservation!