Chum salmon have arrived in the Goldstream River and many onlookers stopped by the park Monday to watch the fish make their annual run.

The salmon spent three to five years in the ocean and have made it back to the place where they were born.

Water in the river splashed as male fish fought each other and females dug to lay eggs, all while they made their way upstream, against the rapids.

Jackie Crone just moved to the area one year ago from Winnipeg. She made her way down to the river to see the salmon run for the first time.

READ MORE: Higher water levels in Goldstream River may help more salmon get upstream

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of exciting, itB次元官网网址檚 also kind of sad to me,B次元官网网址� Crone said. B次元官网网址淚 mean theyB次元官网网址檙e going to die after they finish laying eggs B次元官网网址� so thatB次元官网网址檚 the end of their cycle but itB次元官网网址檚 still a really nice thing to watch.B次元官网网址�

CroneB次元官网网址檚 dog B次元官网网址� who she brought to the salmon run with her B次元官网网址� was also very excited to see the fish thrashing around in the water.

Parents made their way to the water with young children and Meghan Mccann, a Saanich resident remembered coming to salmon run when she was five-years-old.

B次元官网网址淚 was in kindergarten with my class,B次元官网网址� Mccann said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 remarkable that these creatures do this every year and go hundreds of miles up river.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Spawning salmon start to trickle through Goldstream Park

Mccann is an environmental educator and she said she noticed a difference between salmon runs then and now.

B次元官网网址淚 remember the whole area being littered with salmon carcasses B次元官网网址� and now I look down and thereB次元官网网址檚 one,B次元官网网址� Mccann said. B次元官网网址淚t definitely seems like there are less than there were when I came here as a kid.B次元官网网址�

Mccann said she thinks it is important for people to enjoy and learn about the salmon run.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 especially important for young people to come out and experience it first hand,B次元官网网址� Mccann said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think itB次元官网网址檚 also important for all people to be able to come and witness whatB次元官网网址檚 happening here, learn about how itB次元官网网址檚 changed, learn about what they can do to try to protect the rivers and protect the salmon.B次元官网网址�

Salmon typically return in late October and run through to early December, according to RLC Park Services.

RLC Park Services has also provided the public with some tips to view the salmon:

• Walk to the river, donB次元官网网址檛 run
• Dogs must be on a leash and out of the river at all times
• Stay on designated trails and do not enter the river or throw rocks into it
• Wear polarized sunglasses to see below the surface
• Walk down to the Goldstream Nature House for displays and activities

shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com

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