Download Knowledge Lesson - Shuswap Watershed Project

British Columbia is world famous for its
stunning scenery, its pristine waters, and
its unique diversity of plants and animals.
This slide show is to help you learn
about introduced species and help you
know what you can do to help preserve
our precious ecosytems for future
generations.
Visitors come to B.C. from all over the
world to witness the marvels of nature
and take part in recreational activities
that we sometimes take for granted.
Many people believe (and I agree)
that B.C. is....
The Best Place on Earth
We believe that it is very important for
people to get to know their wild
neighbours. With knowledge and close
connections with nature, children can
become environmental stewards and help
conserve our natural systems for future
generations.
“Observe and conserve “
Young Naturalists’ Motto
Salmon and trout have been historically,
and still are, life sustaining parts of our
diet, recreation and economy.
Some of our native salmon and trout
(salmonids) that have evolved here
over the past 11,000 years include :
Cutthroat Trout
Chum Salmon
Rainbow Trout
and Steelhead
Chinook Salmon
Pink Salmon
Coho Salmon
Sockeye Salmon
and Kokanee
Unfortunately, some of our precious
ecosystems are in danger of being
changed forever because of the
introduction of plants and animals from
elsewhere. Often there are no natural
controls for these “alien” species.
It is hoped that through education, we
can learn to avoid problems and save our
unique, diverse ecosystems. Once
damage is done, it is tremendously
difficult and expensive to fix .
A word about terminology:
People have a tendency to demonize the
species that are introduced in new places
and take over natural systems. Invasives,
non-natives, pests, aliens, and exotics are
commonly used interchangeable terms.
These plants and animals are not evil. They
are just doing what they were designed to
do... create as many of their own kind as
possible.
Introduced species that become a problem
and destroy our native systems become
invasive because:
They reproduce like crazy – they produce abundant
seeds or offspring.
There are very efficient feeders – they eat our native
species “out of house and home.” They are “tough”
They may eat the eggs, the young, or the adults of our
native species
They take up the space destroy the habitat of our native
species
Some of these introductions are
unintentional and some are intentional
Unintentional introductions happen when
species ``hitch hike`` and establish
themselves in new places.
Zebra Mussels
Eurasian milfoil
Some “hitchhikers” are diseases or
parasites which attack native species and
they are hard to detect
Whirling Disease
Infectious hematopetic
necrosis virus
Myxobolus
cerebralis
What you can do:
 Empty water buckets in lake or stream where the water came
from.
 Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals
from your gear.
Eliminate water from all equipment including boats, trailers,
pontoons, waders, fishing gear before transporting anywhere.
Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
 If you are not releasing your fish, clean your fish, puncture the
swim bladder and sink the entrails in deep water in the lake
where you caught them.
Some Intentional introductions happen when
uninformed, well meaning people don’t
know how what to do with unwanted pets or
unwanted specimens they have collected.
What you can do:
Be kind to domesticated animals or plants - never release
them into the wild.
Be kind to non-native organisms - never release a non
native organism to the wild or into a storm drain.
Leave water, animals, or plants in the body of water
you find them.
Learn to recognize common invaders and report to
1-877-952-7277 The RAPP Line.
Share your knowledge with others to prevent the spread
of invasive species.
Historically, other intentional introductions
have been made. Decisions were made to
introduce alien species to new areas to
create fishing or economic opportunities .
Unfortunately, some of these introductions
have ruined whole ecosystems.
Modern biologists use the Precautionary
Principle which basically says “it is better
to be safe than sorry.” It is impossible to
accurately predict what will happen when
new species are introduced into an area.
Mother Nature Knows Best
Still other intentional introductions are
illegal acts by unthinking people that only
want to create a short term fishery for
themselves. These illegal introductions are
taken very seriously. There is a $20,000.00
reward for information leading to the
conviction of persons responsible for the
illegal introduction of bass, perch and
pumpkinseed to the Thompson Region.
Large fines and jail terms could result.
In addition, lakes that are found to have
illegal introductions will be closed to fishing
for everyone. Fisheries managers may feel
it is necessary to kill out all the fish in the
lake and start over. This is a drastic,
expensive measure and no one likes doing
it. Fisheries biologists would rather spend
their time and money protecting and
preserving trout and salmon fisheries that
already exist.
Fish that have not evolved in B.C. often
have no natural predators here and out
compete our native trout and salmon.
They literally eat them “out of house and
home”, take up their living space, eat the
eggs, eat the young, and in some cases eat
the adult fish.
Bass
Yellow Perch
Pumpkin Seed
Walleye
Black Crappie
Northern Pike
None the less, introducing new species is
sort of like playing ``Russian Roulette``
with the future of our ecosystems. It is
much healthier and cheaper to prevent
ecosystem destruction than to try to
restore disturbed systems.
Would we tinker with a watch that was
keeping perfect time by adding more
parts or taking parts away?
Should we tinker with delicately balanced
ecosystems and add more parts or take
parts away?
Remember
Humans did not create the web of life
but we are part of it. What we do to
the web we do to ourselves.
(Paraphrased from famous quote attributed to Chief Seattle
1854)
Every region of B.C. faces threats to our
treasured salmon and trout fisheries. The
B.C. Ministry of Environment and the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans are
very concerned. The following slides
indicate some regional problems and
threats. Prevention is the key. It is
important to learn to recognize invasive
species so quick action can be taken. So
observe carefully.
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the movement
of invasive, exotic
species
like
Peace
the....
Goldfish
Skeena
Ominica
Cariboo
ThompsonNicola Kootenays
Lower
Vancouver
Mainland Okanagan
Island
Preserve B.C. Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the
movement of invasive, exotic
species like the....
Bull Frog
Vancouver Island
Lower Mainland Okanagan
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the
movement of invasive exotic
species like the....
Eurasian Milfoil
ThompsonNichola
Kootenays
Vancouver Lower
Okanagan
Island Mainland
Preserve B.C. Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the movement
of invasive, exotic species like
the....
Yellow Perch
Thompson-Nicola
Vancouver LowerOkanagan
Island Mainland
Kootenays
Preserve B.C.’s Unique
aquatic ecosystems. Stop the
movement of invasive, exotic
species like the....
Bass
Cariboo
Kootenays
Vancouver
Okanagan
Lower Mainland
Island
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the movement of
invasive, exotic species like the....
Northern Pike
Kootenays
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic
ecosystems. Stop the movement of
invasive, exotic species like the....
Whirling Disease
Washington
Idaho Montana
State
The problems of invasive species, pollution,
global warming, human population growth,
and habitat loss may seem overwhelming
at times and too big for us to tackle.
But ``never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful people can change the world,
indeed it`s the only thing that ever has.``
Margaret Mead famous anthropologist``
What you can do to help protect
BC’s unique aquatic ecosystems?
What you can do:
Be kind to domesticated animals - never release them into
the wild ( or plants either)
Be kind to non-native organisms - never release a non
native organism to the wild
Leave water, animals or plants in the body of water
you find them
Learn to recognize common invaders and report to
1-877-952-7277 The RAPP Line
Share your knowledge with others to prevent the spread
of invasive species
What you can do:
 Empty water buckets in lake or stream where the water came
from.
 Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals
from your gear.
Eliminate water from all equipment including boats, trailers,
pontoons, waders, fishing gear before transporting anywhere.
Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
 If you are not releasing your fish, clean your fish, puncture the
swim bladder and sink the entrails in deep water in the lake
where you caught them.
Be on the look out for any of the
following species. If you catch
one where they are not known to
normally live, kill it, put it in a
plastic bag, freeze it, and notify
fisheries through the RAPP line.
1877-952-7277
Pumpkin Seed
Yellow Perch
Walleye
As a grade 5 boy said,
Bass
“ The spiny ray, gives them away!”
Also be on the lookout for
and report,
Purple Loosestrife
Northern Pike
Eurasian
Milfoil
Big Head
Carp
Atlantic
Salmon
Bullfrog
Black Crappie
More you can do!
 Take part in the Go Fish
Program - www.gofishbc.com
Join a Fish and Game Club or a
Fly Fishing Club
 Join a Naturalist Club – www.ync.ca
Think of your own ways to educate other people in
your community about the dangers of moving fish and
wildlife from one place to another
Go fishing with your family
But above all....
Enjoy Super Natural B.C.
Now and into the future.
The End