Fisheries

The conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of indigenous fisheries (anadromous and resident) and aquatic resources within Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory.

Construction of dams, channelization, urban encroachment, industrial agriculture, and ineffective water management practices have all contributed to depletion and extinction of fish stocks within the Okanagan River basin.

The ONA work to provide technical fisheries assistance for the Nation and its eight member communities and acts as a liaison between federal and provincial fisheries agencies and other NGOs. We are actively involved in the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish stocks, and in particular with Okanagan River sockeye salmon.

The Okanagan River sockeye population is one of only two remaining populations of sockeye salmon in the international Columbia River Basin. Historically, chinook, coho, chum and steelhead were also indigenous salmon species in the Columbia River system, including the Okanagan Basin, but today they are either extinct or found in very low numbers.

Salmon Spawning Poster 2022

Project Highlights

Broodstock Tours

As part of the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ initiative, ONA has been beach seining and collecting eggs and milt from adult Sockeye in the Okanagan River for rearing and release into Skaha Lake. Since…

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Community Fishing Notice: Chinook Head Recovery

CHINOOK FROM WHERE? Middle Shuswap River, including Mable Lake and up to Shuswap Falls HOW TO ENTER/HELP When you catch a Chinook salmon follow the instructions below: 1. Check to see if the adipose fin is missing, if missing, 2. Remove the salmon’s head and put it in a plastic bag. 3. Use a pencil […]

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Osoyoos Lake Smolt Purse Seining (PIT tag)

Since 2012, ONA has been tagging a portion of Okanagan sockeye smolts with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. Starting in 2016, ONA, Grant and Chelan Public Utility Districts, and the Columbia River Inter Tribal Fisheries Commission have been piloting the use of purse seining to capture smolts to PIT tag. Construction of permanent flood control […]

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