Education Strategies and Partnerships for Salmon Conservation

Using a variety of techniques, Intervale will increase public knowledge and awareness of the importance of conserving wild Atlantic salmon and salmon habitat in NL. Staff will give at least 10 presentations to approximately 200 youth at schools, communities, and youth groups about threats to salmon in local rivers and what can be done to improve salmon populations and protect in-stream salmon habitat. Using experienced instructors, Intervale will teach skills through approximately 10 hands-on fly tying and best practices workshops for approximately 90 youth and adults, designed to motivate people to reduce harm to salmon and become river stewards. Intervale will continue to mentor a youth (age 17) who will teach fly tying and salmon conservation to younger youth, and Intervale will offer educational advisory support to the newly formed Watershed Stewardship Association of Rocky, Colinet and North Harbour Rivers.

As outreach, Intervale staff will create and distribute 2 issues of Living Rivers newsletter, post 8 promotional messages on Facebook, install and maintain 5 trailhead guest book boxes (which have proven to be effective stewardship tools) at popular fishing areas, and distribute 1,000 refrigerator magnets designed to reduce poaching.

Based on positive feedback resulting from a 3-day salmon workshop for youth organized by Intervale and Flat Bay Band in 2024, the St. George’s First Nation Band requested Intervale to organize a similar program for them in 2025. The 3-day workshop will be headquartered at the Mi’kmaw museum in St. George’s and will target Indigenous youth, ages 10-17. In addition, Intervale will host a salmon education booth at the 2-day Bay St. George Powwow in July, an event hosted annually by the Flat Bay Band (in 2024 approximately 200 people visited Intervale’s booth).

As requested by the Town of Stephenville Crossing, Intervale will create an interpretive panel about salmon conservation and the Harry’s River. The Town will install it at a beautiful viewpoint overlooking a salmon pool on the Harry’s River and maintain it for years.

Finally, Intervale will conduct a habitat assessment of Dribble Brook (tributary of Flat Bay Brook), led by Intervale staff, with assistance from two summer students from Flat Bay Band and St. George’s Band.