The Tla’amin Salmon Hatchery located on the Tla’amin River is north of Powell River and has been operated by the Tla’amin First Nation under a contribution agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The mandate of the Tla’amin Salmon Hatchery is to enhance and protect the existing salmon stocks of Chum, Coho, Pink, and Chinook salmon in the Tla’amin, Theodosia and Okeover Rivers.
The project employs three nation members who brood a targeted capacity of 1.5 million Chum eggs and 150,000 Chinook eggs and an additional 60,000 Coho. As a result of their efforts the Tla’amin Hatchery produced and released approximately 80 million salmon from 1977 to 2025.
In the fall, hatchery workers monitor the four species of salmon as they return to spawn. Eggs are taken from adult salmon, fertilized and cared for through the winter months, when the eggs hatch in the spring; the fry are fed and cared for until they are ready for release in mid- June before the water warms up for summer.
In addition to egg collection and the care and feeding of young fry, the hatchery crew is involved in a number of other hatchery-related activities. Through public tours, the hatchery promotes awareness with regards to the Salmon Enhancement Program and conservation of one of our most valuable resources, the salmon species as a whole. As a key component in the “Cross Cultural Awareness”. The hatchery educates the school children of Powell River about how vital the salmon are to the Native people of Tla’amin and the importance of enhancement and protection of habitat and conservation. The hatchery has a viewquarium onsite where the children see the spawning salmon dig their nests. We also share traditional knowledge by providing the children and parents/teachers a demonstration on how smoked salmon are prepared in our community smoke house. The fisheries staff also conduct stock assessment during the fall season when the salmon return home to the spawning grounds.