Each fall, salmon swim through Toronto’s rivers, their powerful migration a reminder that nature is in the concrete city’s backyards.
Toronto's rivers run wild with the annual salmon migration in the fall, as thousands of salmon fight their way upstream to where they were born, to start their spawn’s new life. It's a breathtaking journey to mark the end of their life cycle.
This annual migration, more commonly called the salmon run, has become a classroom for elementary school students to watch the run, teaching them about Toronto’s wildlife.
”I’ve seen so many school groups come by just to look at the fish,” said Claire Probst, who was visiting Etienne Brulé Park by the Humber River. “The kids get really excited, and I think that’s so important — teaching them about the circle of life by letting them see it, not just read about it.”
For many, the salmon run represents a rare opportunity to connect with local wildlife in an urban setting. Colin Love, supervisor of community and outreach and education at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), said the migration is an essential part of the city’s ecosystem.
“The salmon run is the completion of their life cycle. Adult salmon who've been living in Lake Ontario return to their spawning grounds, the same streams and rivers where they were born, to lay their eggs and then pass away. It's a powerful natural cycle that's happening right in our backyards,” Love said.
Most of the salmon we see in Ontario rivers are Pacific salmon, such as Chinook and Coho salmon, which have been in the area rivers for decades. The native Atlantic salmon, which was once prominent in Lake Ontario, was declared locally extinct in the late 1800s due to pollution and overfishing.
Now, local conservationists are working to change that.
“We’re part of a program called Bring Back the Salmon. It's a province-wide effort to reintroduce Atlantic salmon to their native waters. There are classrooms all over Ontario raising salmon fry and releasing them into local rivers. It's a great success story,” Love said.
But the excitement of the salmon run also comes with challenges, including people fishing during the migration. Probst noticed that while fishing itself isn't bad, doing it during spawning season can devastate already vulnerable wildlife.
“Fishing in general isn't bad, but there's certain morals and rules you have to follow, so having people watch over rivers is a really good idea,” Probst said.
Callie Smith, an active nature enthusiast, agreed.
“I don't think it's ethical to seek out salmon just for their eggs. You're actively harming their population. There should be rules stating you can't fish during these months or at least restrictions on what can be taken,” she said.
The TRCA encourages residents to support conservation efforts in other ways, from reducing pollution and littering to volunteering in clean-up events and restoration projects. Love said the health of Toronto's rivers is a key part of Toronto itself.
“Having a clean, thriving environment is essential. We’re blessed to have this incredible natural phenomenon happening so close to us. Observing it should inspire us to take care of our rivers, because the health of these salmon tells us a lot about the health of our community,” Love said.
For those who want to see the salmon run firsthand, the TRCA has an interactive map listing recent verified sightings of salmon around the GTA. The run continues throughout the rest of October to early November.
