Svanvik was referring to DFO’s Fraser sockeye test fishery conducted in ʼNa̱mg̱is territory at the end of July, where seine boat sets averaged 7,500 fish from July 28 to 30, peaking at an “incredible” 15,000+ fish on July 31.

The test fishery coincides with early returns of more than 700,000 Fraser River sockeye — well above Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s pre-season forecast of 116,000, exceeding it by more than six times.

“The 2025 Early Stuart sockeye run is the largest since 1997,” the Pacific Salmon Foundation stated, “and represents productivity levels similar to the 1970s.”

Open-net salmon farms have operated on the B.C. coast since the 1980s and have been widely documented spreading viruses, bacteria, and sea lice to wild salmon. In recent years, dozens of farms along the Fraser River sockeye migration route have been closed. The federal government has committed to banning open-net pen salmon farms by 2029, although industry is both lobbying and pursuing legal action to reverse that decision.

The ʼNa̱mg̱is, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, and Mamalilikulla were among the first Nations to remove all salmon farms from their territories after gaining access to farm sites and seeing firsthand the threats they pose to wild salmon.

“Not everyone will agree with me that these huge salmon returns are because of salmon farm removals,” said Svanvik. “But I ask: do First Nations and others who care about salmon want to take the risk of letting these farms stay — or return?”

While Fraser River returns are cause for celebration, Svanvik noted that returns to local rivers like the Gwa’ni (Nimpkish) are still far below where they should be.

“Our Nimpkish sockeye have had some relief from the removal of farms in the Broughton Archipelago,” he said, “but they’re still exposed to lice and pathogens from salmon farms around Port Hardy.”

“All First Nations should be encouraged to see that wild salmon can bounce back when given the chance,” Svanvik added. “The federal government needs to keep its promise and let wild salmon recover across B.C. Commercial and recreational fishers also have reason to cheer. These are great days for wild salmon.”