Haida Gwaii is an isolated archipelago of more than 200 islands covering 10,180 square kilometres. Hecate Strait separates Haida Gwaii from mainland British Columbia by about 100 kilometres. Salmon-bearing watersheds on Haida Gwaii range from small streams scattered along the coastline to larger well-known salmon rivers such as the Yakoun and Tlell Rivers. Often called the “Galapagos of the North”, it is home to ecologically diverse temperate rainforest and freshwater wetlands which supports a diversity of spawning and rearing habitats for all species of Pacific salmon and steelhead.

Decades of industrial logging have profoundly impacted the structure and function of salmon ecosystems across Haida Gwaii. Although the legacy of logging will take decades to repair, steps have been made to protect and restore Haida Gwaii’s ecosystems[21].  In 1993, the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site was established to protect 1,500 square kilometres of the archipelago and, since 2012, logging rates have been significantly reduced under co-management by the Haida Nation and the provincial government.

Recreational and commercial fisheries in the region typically intercept salmon on their migrations to other spawning areas. Although the numbers of salmon that actually spawn on Haida Gwaii are relatively small, salmon are a mainstay of cultures and communities in this remote island region. Most streams have a strong return of pink salmon during even calendar years only. Sockeye populations are smaller and are mainly harvested in First Nations food, social, and ceremonial fisheries.