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January 2007
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Report

High and Dry: An Investigation of Salmon-Habitat Destruction in British Columbia

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation
Authored by: John Werring
ISBN: 1-897375-07-7

Biodiversity, Oceans and fresh water protecting coastal waters, species at risk, salmon, British Columbia, conservation, policy and regulation, water systems, land use

2.6 MB

Recent (2000, 2005) internal Fisheries and Oceans Canada audits have found that fish-habitat damage in B.C. is still ongoing and is widespread, particularly due to activities related to timber harvesting and urban and rural development. Even the auditor general of Canada has chastised the DFO, several times, for failing to take the steps needed to protect salmon habitat.

Why is this allowed to happen? The biggest problem is that over the past few decades government support for economic development has, more often than not, trumped fish-habitat protection, and instead of things getting better, it appears that things may get a lot worse. Of particular concern are recent changes to the way government provides oversight with regard to fish-habitat protection. Essentially, the federal and provincial governments are withdrawing from their historical role of being the arbiter of traditional methods of fish-habitat protection, like fish-habitat impact assessment, monitoring and enforcement. In the past, federal and provincial environmental-agency regulatory staff have conducted this work in a transparent and accountable system. Now, however, the new policies and budget cuts in Ottawa and Victoria have reduced the operational capacity within DFO and the relevant provincial ministries to protect fish habitat.

The ultimate question now: Is this new approach to habitat management working? The David Suzuki Foundation investigated some specific land-development initiatives to find out. We monitored and documented recent stream and fish-habitat damage in different parts of B.C., reported that damage to DFO and monitored the response. The results are troubling. Our observations and experiences suggest that the current habitat-protection and management system is not working.

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Related resources

Biodiversity, Oceans and fresh water
January 2007

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — High and Dry: An Investigation of Salmon-Habitat Destruction in British Columbia

John Werring

Current salmon habitat-protection and management systems are not working. This investigation documented recent stream and fish-habitat damage in different parts of B.C. and reported that damage to DFO to monitor their response.

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Canadian charitable number: BN 127756716RR0001
US charitable number: 94-3204049

The David Suzuki Foundation acknowledges Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis — more than 900,000 people living in around 630 Indigenous communities and in cities and towns across these lands.

© 2025 David Suzuki Foundation. Website by Briteweb

© 2025 David Suzuki Foundation. Website by Briteweb