The Skeena River begins just south of the Alaska panhandle near Prince Rupert, and extends from the humid coast, through the Coast Mountains, and into the drier interior plateau.
The Skeena Watershed is a land of rugged glacier-capped mountains, lush forests, and swift-flowing rivers. At 54,432 km2, the Skeena watershed is the second largest watershed in BC, and has the second highest capacity to produce salmon. It is home to hundreds of distinct populations of sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, chum salmon, pink salmon, and steelhead trout.
However, these once-abundant salmon runs now face serious declines due to many factors including overfishing, habitat loss, extractive resource activities, and industrial development. Climate change effects in both marine and freshwater environments have also resulted in serious impacts to fish habitat, health, productivity, and survival.
Skeena First Nations have deep connections to all fish populations within our territories, which we have harvested, managed, and protected since time immemorial. Our fisheries are truly at the heart of our cultures and way of life.
