June | 2017 | Okanagan Select

Shayla Lawrence and technician, Herb Alex, testing water at the state-of-the-art Okanagan Nation Allliance Hatchery.

Okanagan Nation Alliance operates Gravity-fed Sockeye Hatchery

Posted on 2017-06-15 by Okanagan Select Admin

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) operates a state-of-the-art $8 million sockeye salmon hatchery, just outside Penticton, in southern British Columbia, Canada.

“We are building a state-of-the-art program for sockeye enhancement,” says Richard Bussanich (Masters in Marine Sciences from the University of Guelph). The Okanagan Nation Alliance constructed the 25,000 square foot gravity-fed hatchery as a key part of the Okanagan Sockeye Reintroduction Plan. It’s a 12-year trans border project led by the ONA, that combines water management, habitat restoration, dam passages and fish enhancement.

It was new to DFO that a First Nations group would own a sockeye hatchery of this size and are doing it for enhancement purposes. We’re not raising fish to sell,” notes Lawrence. “And it’s not costing Canadians a cent,” adds Bussanich. Funds for the hatchery have come entirely from the Public Utility Departments of Grant and Chelan Counties, in Washington State, as part of their Columbia River dam mitigation commitments.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance represents eight “Syilx” or “Okanagan” communities around the Okanagan Basin, including the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington State, on stewardship issues.

Okanagan Nation Alliance’s Okanagan Lake Sockeye Fry Release

Posted on 2017-06-13 by Okanagan Select Admin

Okanagan Nation Territory (Westbank, British Columbia):

between June 6th and 9th, 2017, the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s (ONA) kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery provided sockeye salmon fry for releases taking place at 6 Mile Creek, Trout Creek, and Mission Creek. The releases of 230,000 fry are in recognition and celebration of the Syilx peoples’ continued successful efforts to bring sockeye salmon back to the Okanagan, and since 2016 to Okanagan Lake.

Introducing the New Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program

Posted on 2017-06-09 by Okanagan Select Admin

To commemorate World Oceans Day, Ocean Wise is evolving along with the Vancouver Aquarium, to announce a new venture that will have international impact: the launch of a global conservation organization and a digital storytelling hub that will inspire the next generation of ocean leaders.

The name of that new organization is Ocean Wise.

Ocean Wise Logo Transition

As you may know, the original Ocean Wise — the sustainable seafood program of which you base your seafood purchasing decisions — was founded by the Vancouver Aquarium in 2005. Over the last 12 years, the program has expanded from 16 partners in Vancouver to over 700 partners with thousands of locations spanning across Canada.

Ocean Wise will now be a global conservation initiative focused on an international audience of ocean and nature lovers. The new Ocean Wise organization will be supported by four key pillars: education, research, engagement and aquariums.

For our customers, the changes are largely cosmetic. The program will continue to be called the Ocean Wise seafood program, and Okanagan Select will continue to be an active partner.

The new Ocean Wise logo will begin to appear on Okanagan Select and River Select labels and packaging, as we update our products and packages. You will notice the new labels on Okanagan Sockeye fillets and Cold Smoke products, first.

Ocean Wise Listing

This is an exciting new chapter for the Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program, as it begins to address seafood sustainability on a global level. You, our customer, are integral to the program’s success to date and its ongoing evolution. A wholehearted thank you from our entire team. We look forward to sharing this journey with you! If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Okanagan Select or Ocean Wise seafood team members.