Shae Denny finds it hard to believe that the local conservation efforts in Cape Breton are gaining global recognition. Denny, an aquatic programs manager at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, expressed the significance of this acknowledgment, emphasizing the long-standing stewardship of the land by the Mi’kmaw community.

The United Nations recently commended a seven-year collaborative initiative involving scientists, Indigenous groups, and volunteers to restore the Atlantic salmon population in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The project, known as Respectful Returns and launched in 2010 by Parks Canada, aims to revive rivers and streams in various national parks, contributing to the restoration of over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways to date.

Denny, a member of the Eskasoni First Nation, highlighted the early recognition by the Mi’kmaq community of the declining salmon stocks in Cape Breton back in the 1950s. This led to the establishment of a salmon advisory committee in partnership with Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and local river associations, emphasizing the power of collaboration in achieving conservation goals.

In 2019, the restoration program commenced in Cape Breton Highlands National Park after years of dwindling salmon populations. According to park ecologist Sarah Penney, the project involved capturing juvenile salmon from the Chéticamp River and Clyburn Brook, raising them in captivity, and releasing them back into the wild to increase survival rates. The hands-on intervention proved successful, with the salmon population meeting the conservation benchmark of 75 adult salmon returning for spawning for the first time in three decades.

While accepting the prestigious World Restoration Flagship distinction from the UN in December, Parks Canada recognized and awarded certificates to key groups involved in the Cape Breton restoration efforts, including the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and local salmon associations. Bill Haley, vice-president of the Margaree Salmon Association, emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving such global recognition, citing the significance of being part of impactful conservation projects worldwide.