Dedicating Every Season to Salmon
Our Hatchery's Monthly Rhythm
From the exhilarating capture of salmon broodstock in the fall to the release of robust fry into the Sooke River and Young Lake in the early summer, each season brings forth a distinct chapter in our ongoing vision; Fish for the Future. Join us on this journey through the changing seasons, where our collective efforts echo the timeless cycle of salmon and the ongoing legacy of the hatchery
Fall
October
As the crisp air of October sets in and the fish return to their natal rivers perpetuating the cycle of the salmon, the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society gears up for a crucial event—the capture of salmon broodstock for the hatchery. Using specialized nets and equipment, including teams of skilled divers, volunteers carefully collect broodstock from the river, ensuring the genetic diversity and health of future salmon populations. The Spirit of the Chinook Salmon permeates these outings, bringing together a diverse group, from kids to grandparents, all contributing to this annual tradition. Working in teams, we bring the broodstock back to the hatchery to start off our next generation of salmon.
Fall
November
The adult male and female salmon are kept in tanks at the hatchery, some needing more time to mature than others. Once the females are ready, all their eggs are carefully harvested and then fertilized with the milt (sperm) from the captured males. This dynamic harvesting of eggs continues to unfold in the heart of our hatchery, where the fertilized eggs journey to trays in the incubator room, marking a significant phase in our commitment to salmon sustainability and conservation.
This is by no means the end of the salmon’s journey however. After the harvest and fertilization of the eggs, all the salmon carcasses are returned to the Sooke River, to continue their journey of nourishing the river, its inhabitants and surrounding lands with the nutrients from their recycling bodies.
Winter
November & December
As the eggs develop in our incubation room, they develop eyes. This is when a critical process called “shocking” is undertaken. the eggs are dropped into cold water from a certain height, differentiating between fertilized and non-fertilized eggs by their color. Come join us to find out what they look like! Our dedicated teams then meticulously picks out and returns the fertilized eggs to trays, ensuring their continued growth. Throughout this stage, vigilant monitoring and removal of any non-fertilized eggs prevent the potential spread of fungus and disease, ensuring the health of the entire egg population.
Winter into Spring
January & February
The next stage is when the eggs hatch, becoming alevins, a tiny fish with its yolk sac attached to its belly. They live off this yolk for a period of time until it is absorbed. This is called buttoning up and they are now ready for the next stage of their growth. They are now called fry and are moved to the various troughs and tanks for rearing.
Winter into Spring
February Onwards
A daily routine of trough cleaning and fry feeding seven days a week by our dedicated volunteers allows the fry to continue to grow. After several months of this TLC, the fry have grown into healthy young fish and are ready for release into the Sooke River and Young Lake.
Spring into Summer
June
The robust fry, nurtured with tender care throughout the months, are now ready for release into the Sooke River and Young Lake. This marks the beginning of their journey in the wild, as they embark on a route that takes them out to sea and eventually back to the river, perpetuating the timeless cycle of the salmon. As they swim downstream, the legacy of the Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery continues to echo through every fin stroke.
Summer
July & August
Throughout the summer, volunteers take a well-earned break. Some work continues at the hatchery such as maintenance, cleaning, and various improvements to make way for the upcoming season for our next Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery school of fish.
Fall
October
As the crisp air of October sets in and the fish return to the river perpetuating the cycle of the salmon, the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society gears up for a crucial event—the capture of salmon brood stock for the hatchery. The Spirit of the Chinook Salmon permeates these outings, bringing together a diverse group, from kids to grandparents, fishermen to non-fishers, all contributing to this annual tradition.
Fall
November
The adult male and female salmon are kept in tanks at the hatchery, some needing more time to mature than others. Once the females are ready, all their eggs are carefully harvested and then fertilized with the milt (sperm) from the captured males. This dynamic harvesting of eggs continues to unfold in the heart of our hatchery, where the fertilized eggs journey to trays in the incubator room, marking a significant phase in our commitment to salmon sustainability and conservation.
This is by no means the end of the salmon’s journey however. After the harvest and fertilization of the eggs, all the salmon carcasses are returned to the Sooke River, to continue their journey of nourishing the river, its inhabitants and surrounding lands with the nutrients from their recycling bodies.
Winter
November & December
As the eggs develop in our incubation room, they develop eyes. This is when critical process called “shocking” unfolds. Delicately dropped into cold water from a prescribed height, this technique differentiates between infertile and viable eggs. Our dedicated team meticulously picks and returns the viable eggs to trays, ensuring their continued growth. Throughout this stage, vigilant monitoring and removal of any non-viable eggs prevent the potential spread of fungus, safeguarding the health of the entire egg population.
Winter into Spring
January & February
The next stage is the hatch, when the eggs become alevins, a tiny fish with its yolk sac attached to its belly. They live off this yolk for a period of time until it is absorbed. This is called buttoning up and they are now ready for the next stage of their growth. The fry, as they are now called, are moved to the various troughs and tanks for rearing.
Winter into Spring
February Onwards
A daily routine of trough cleaning and fry feeding, seven days a week, for eight hours each day by our dedicated volunteers allows the fry to continue to grow. After several months of this TLC, the fry have grown into healthy young fish and are ready for release into the Sooke River.
Spring into Summer
June
The robust fry, nurtured with tender care throughout the months, are now ready for release into the Sooke River. This marks the beginning of their journey, as they embark on a route that takes them out to sea and eventually back to the river, perpetuating the timeless cycle of the salmon. As they swim downstream, the legacy of the Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery continues to echo through their every fin stroke.
Summer
July & August
Throughout the summer, volunteers take a well-earned break. Some work continues at the hatchery such as maintenance, cleaning, and various improvements to make way for the upcoming season for our next Jack Brooks Hatchery school of fish.
Become a Volunteer
Join our passionate team at the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society and make a meaningful impact on the future of our local salmon populations. There is always a place for someone with the spirit of the salmon! Volunteer today and keep your year interesting while restoring salmon populations