Shae Denny expressed astonishment at the global acknowledgment of local conservation initiatives in Cape Breton. As the aquatic programs manager at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, representing Cape Breton’s Mi’kmaw community, Denny emphasized the significance of the recognition, highlighting their longstanding role as land stewards.
The United Nations recently commended a collaborative effort spanning seven years involving scientists, Indigenous groups, and community volunteers to restore the Atlantic salmon population in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This initiative, named Respectful Returns by Parks Canada, was honored with a World Restoration Flagship, recognizing it as one of the world’s leading examples of large-scale ecosystem restoration.
Initiated in 2010, Respectful Returns is a joint endeavor between Parks Canada, Indigenous communities, and local groups aimed at reviving rivers and streams nationwide. The project has successfully restored over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways in seven national parks.
Denny, a member of Eskasoni First Nation, highlighted the early awareness of declining salmon stocks in Cape Breton by the Mi’kmaq community in the 1950s. This led to the establishment of a salmon advisory committee involving Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and local river associations to address the issue collaboratively.
The restoration program in Cape Breton Highlands National Park commenced in 2019 following a significant decline in the salmon population over several decades. Park ecologist Sarah Penney mentioned that salmon counts in the 1980s registered around 75 adult salmon annually, which dropped to about 10 in the 1990s and early 2000s due to high mortality rates among young salmon.
To reverse this trend, Parks Canada and partner organizations began capturing juvenile salmon from the Chéticamp River and Clyburn Brook, raising them in captivity until they were ready for release into the wild. This hands-on intervention proved successful, with the salmon population reaching the conservation target of 75 for the first time in three decades.
While Parks Canada accepted the prestigious flagship distinction in December, they recently recognized four key groups in Cape Breton, including the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and local salmon associations, for their vital contributions to the restoration project.
Bill Haley, vice-president of the Margaree Salmon Association, mentioned their role in constructing a smolt wheel on the Chéticamp River to monitor migrating fish. Being acknowledged alongside global initiatives like major reforestation projects in Papua New Guinea was a significant achievement for Haley and his team.
The recognition of local conservation efforts on a global scale underscores the importance of collaborative conservation practices in preserving and restoring ecosystems.