Fin's swim in tune with spirit of the salmon
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by Chris Hopkin |
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I was around salmon, rivers, and estuaries for a lot of years before I realized the importance and sensitivity of things like habitat and the marine food chain.
I wasn't the only one. Not many years back people in the name of progress thought nothing of disturbing the mudflats and weedbanks and bars of the mighty Fraser River. In those days they, and I, hadn't the slightest appreciation of the multitude of living organisms occupying a handful or back hoe bucket full of river or beach mud. We didn't realize those tiny little critters born in the mud are essential food for slightly larger creatures who in turn are dinner for even larger marine life such as salmon.
Many of us didn't appreciate the sensitive balance (clean mud and water, right temperatures, etc.) that must be maintained for this chain gang to work. When I was growing up (instead of out), if I couldn't see something from about three feet away it didn't exist. I had no idea places like mud flats, weed-filled beaches at low tide, and river and sea bottoms were just seething with billions of little microscopic animals just itching to start a new food chain.
One leading citizen in the lower mainland who clearly understands the importance of all this is Fin Donnelly, a long distance swimmer from Coquitlam. He uses his phenomenal swimming ability to bring attention and awareness to the importance of clean rivers and undisturbed habitat. He has raised a lot of money and has educated thousands of students about the sensitivities of the marine food chain.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, Fin will swim from Macdonald Beach Park in Richmond to False Creek with stops during the day at Wreck Beach and Spanish Banks. It's called the "Spirit of the Salmon" swim and is well worth checking out. From 7 a.m. to noon, festivities planned at Macdonald Park will be interesting for the whole family. They include a few brief speeches, some First Nations dancing, a shoreline clean-up, a water quality sampling, display booths, an interpretive walk, and voyager canoe rides.
The last two appeal to me; a DFO expert (Rosanne Conrad) will walk along the river's edge and actually show and explain the habitat's vulnerability. The voyager canoes will follow Mr. Donnelly on his swim and you can go along for the ride if you pre-register (604-941-5913). What a great learning experience.
This event is a perfect opportunity for people of all ages to really get an understanding and appreciation of how and why the river and its estuary are so sensitive and important to our salmon stocks.
If only we had this understanding a few decades ago. There would have been far more salmon around to catch.
Thanks to Fin Donnelly for reminding us.
