The Mossom Creek Education Centre is now up and running after thousands of chum fry were placed into rearing tanks on Wednesday.
Sixteen months after the Mossom Creek Hatchery burned to the ground - months filled with fundraising, planning, building and hard work by scores of volunteers - the tiny silvery fish that were raised from Alouette River brood stock were placed gingerly into special tanks outfitted for the purpose.
New green roof at Mossom Creek Hatchery
"They are such an iconic species and people want to rally around the salmon," noted Sandie Hollick-Kenyon of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as she kept her eye on the process to make sure the fragile, young creatures were properly handled.
In a few weeks, once they are a bit bigger and acclimatized to Mossom Creek water, they'll be released again - into the creek this time - with the goal of seeing them return in four years.
"They are packing all of the really valuable nutrients back to a system that is nutrient-poor," said Hollick-Kenyon, explaining that the original purpose of fish hatcheries was to build up depleted creeks into healthy ecosystems.
SIGN OF A HEALTHY STREAM
The fact that Mossom and other nearby watercourses - from Noons Creek in Port Moody to Hoy and Scott creeks in Coquitlam and Hyde Creek in Port Coquitlam - see fish returns each year is a sign that these streams have been restored.
"If it stinks and you see carcasses around in the fall, that's a good thing," Hollick-Kenyon said.
Now, the job of looking after the fish fry begins.
Hatchery co-founder Ruth Foster, a retired teacher and volunteer with the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society, said responsible adults are needed to feed the fish each day between 9 and 10 a.m.
HELP NEEDED TO FEED FISH
"It would be wonderful if we had people with fish husbandry and handyman skills who could be here on a regular basis," Foster said.
Volunteers who are interested in taking on the responsibility can contact the organization by emailing [email protected]
Meanwhile, Rod MacVicar, another retired teacher and Mossom's other co-founder, took time to acknowledge everyone who helped out with the $1.15-million project, built with donations of cash and in-kind services as well as government funding.
"I didn't honestly think we'd have fish back here after the fire," he said, noting that the story of Mossom recalls the cycle of life, from death there is rebirth.
"You don't know what the next generation will be like but it's here and it's happy."
MORE INFO
You can find out more about Mossom Creek or help out with remaining projects by visiting the centre off Ioco Road in Port Moody Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. More information is available at mossomcreek.org and donations are still being accepted.
