AQUARIUM VISITORS HELP RELEASE 10,000 BABY SALMON IN STANLEY PARK

Vancouver, BC: Schoolchildren from Cascade Heights Elementary School in Burnaby helped launch the 4th annual Goodbye Salmon Fry event yesterday at the Vancouver Aquarium, releasing dozens of salmon fry into the Alcan Salmon Pool Display in Stanley Park. The Vancouver Aquarium will release more than 10,000 coho salmon fry this season.

“It’s rewarding to send these salmon off on their long journey,” said Dr. John Nightingale, Aquarium President. “It’s amazing to think they’ll go half-way to Japan before returning to this exact same spot.”

The Alcan Salmon Pool Display connects to the BC Hydro Salmon Stream Project in Stanley Park, which winds its way through Stanley Park to Coal Harbour and serves to educate park visitors about the importance of salmon and their habitat.

“Leaving a legacy of environmental stewardship is important to us and we believe the BC Hydro Salmon Stream will raise the awareness and educate generations about the value of conservation and its benefits,” said BC Hydro Senior Vice President of Distribution Bev Van Ruyven.

During this May long weekend, hundreds of families will release baby salmon into the salmon stream as they begin their journey to the Pacific Ocean. Weekend festivities include salmon crafts in Clownfish Cove, face painting, daily salmon stream tours, bug hunts, salmon dissections and gyotaku fish painting. Visitors can name the salmon they release and will receive a certificate commemorating the event.

Goodbye Salmon Fry runs from May 20-22, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is open to all Vancouver Aquarium visitors.

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For more information, please contact:

Brenda Jones

Manager, Public Relations

publicrelations@vanaqua.org