Pacific Salmon Becomes BC’s Official Fish Emblem
Sunday, March 17, 2013 @ 6:11 AM
Prince George, B.C. – The Pacific salmon has been designated the official provincial fish emblem to recognize their high ecological, cultural and economic significance to British Columbians.
“Not only are Pacific salmon integral to the culture, well-being and livelihood of B.C.’s First Nations,” says Environment Minister Terry Lake, “ they are often seen as indicators of overall ecosystem and wildlife health, and important to environmental sustainability. Pacific salmon are also a significant economic driver in B.C. due to commercial and recreational fisheries.”
The designation of Pacific salmon is limited to seven salmonid species, including sockeye, chinook, coho, pink and chum salmon, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout.
The Provincial Symbols and Honours Act lists B.C.’s floral, mineral, bird, tree, mammal and fish emblems, as well as the provincial tartan, which have been deemed by government as representative symbols for the province:
- 1956 – Pacific dogwood adopted as B.C.’s official floral emblem.
- 1968 – Jade adopted as B.C.’s official mineral emblem.
- 1974 – Five-colour official provincial tartan adopted.
- 1987 – Steller’s jay adopted as B.C.’s official bird.
- 1988 – Western red cedar adopted as B.C.’s official tree.
- 2006 – Spirit bear adopted as B.C.’s official mammal.
- 2013 – Pacific salmon adopted as B.C.’s official fish emblem.
Comments
Took them long enough!
What’s next BC’s official bug?
Anyone notice that virtually all of BCs “official things” are all native of the lower mainland and coastal areas? Seems to me a spruce tree is more common in BC than cedar. Steller Jay is about the only thing that is of abundance in the interior.
But, my thoughts the same about te cedar. as for a bug, keep it to the mainland and use the bedbug..haha..
I nominate the mosquito!
Should have been the dog salmon, sneaky, slithering, strikes then runs just like our governments.
This makes no sense to me. “Pacific Salmon” isn’t even a type of fish. Like the article says, it describes multiple different species.
What the heck will the Pacific Salmon emblem look like? It certainly won’t resemble a real object like the other Provincial symbols . . .
Given the state of our only two choices of government, maybe fish “offal” should be our relative BC symbol. In this respect.
This makes no sense to me. “Pacific Salmon” isn’t even a type of fish. Like the article says, it describes multiple different species.
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NMG .. you are absolutely correct … but maybe not politically sensitive ;) … the last two provincial icons are political babies, both the “spirit bear” and “pacific salmon” are names assigned by the activists and politicians … the “spirit bear” should be properly identified as the Kermode bear and the “Pacific salmon” should be replaced by a specific fish from the Pacific salmon group … but accuracy in naming won’t gain you “political” brownie points just before an election
on the idea of a provincial bug, wouldn’t the pine beetle represent the interior quite well?
I seems to me to be very hypocritic of the BC Government to make the Pacific wild salmon the official emblem, given government lack of action (and even obstruction)in the ongoing investigation into the decline of all species of said Pacific wild salmon.
Perhaps as our official emblem we should have instead the disease ridden Atlantic farmed salmon.
Just sayin….
Aaah….the whole thing sounds fishy :)
Careful myopicman there are industry apologists present on this site.
Yep I’ll bite, myopicman do you have empirical evidence to back up this statement,,disease ridden Atlantic farmed salmon? If you do please share.
http://salmonconfidential.ca/
What in hell is wrong with Northern Pike Minnow? It’s prolific in our rivers, streams and lakes, the name was changed from squawfish out of political correctness, indigenous folks have smoked it for years, why can’t it be our provincial fish. Or, what’s the matter with Burbot, very attractive fish and absolutely delicious!
No guts in Victoria these days!
And who was the brains behind calling a low, grovelling mud fish a Pike?
Yup, no brains in Victoria these days either!
http://www.salmonfarmers.org/
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