From Hatching to Habitat: A Hands-On Look at Atlantic Salmon Conservation in Ms. Delevadova's Class

Ms. Delevadova's Grade 11 Environmental Science class has been participating in an exciting Atlantic Salmon rehabilitation program. For weeks, they had been learning about the life cycle of Atlantic Salmon and the importance of protecting their population in Ontario. They had also been preparing for their own classroom hatchery as part of the Bring Back the Salmon Program.

As the eggs hatch and turn into alevin, they remain in their “egg condo” for a short time before having access to the rest of the aquarium. On the day of their release into the more expansive aquarium, the class gathered around the hatching enclosure with great anticipation. Carefully, they removed the tiny salmon and transferred them into the open tank. The fish darted around in the water, exploring their new surroundings before their instinct to hide under the rocks kicked in.

Ms. Delevadova explained to the class the importance of the program and how it fits into the larger context of salmon conservation in Ontario. Through live presentations with a Bring Back the Salmon program technician, students have become more familiar with the history of the species, including how overfishing and habitat destruction has drastically reduced the salmon population in Ontario over the years. The students also had some great questions to understand their lifecycle process better. They will have future presentations with experts to learn about the restoration efforts underway to strengthen the health of their habitat, as well as the process of releasing the salmon from our classroom hatchery into a rehabilitated stream. 

 

Students have been watching the salmon closely, noting their behaviours and growth. Ms. Delevadova took the opportunity to teach the class about spawning and the importance of maintaining healthy and clean water conditions for the fish. 

 

As the weeks go by, the class will continue to care for the salmon and monitor their progress. They are keen to see the fish thriving and grow bigger each day. The hatchery in the classroom also proved to be a valuable learning tool, as the students learned about the water filtration systems and the importance of maintaining proper pH and salinity levels in the water. Later in the spring, when the salmon are in the fry stage, students look forward to assisting the Bring Back the Salmon researchers in releasing the fry into a rehabilitated stream connecting to Lake Ontario.