The Marion Baker Salmon Enhancement Project

01/11/2026

Let the egg sorting begin. Time to start taking out the morts. Finger's crossed for a positive harvest this season.

01/10/2026

Interesting.

01/01/2026

New DFO regulations coming into effect for 2026.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is conducting a consultation with the Southern Resident Killer Whale Indigenous and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group and Technical Working Group Members on five measures intended to address imminent threats to the survival and recovery of orcas resident to the south...

12/31/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Marion Baker Fish Hatchery. Thank you to our volunteers for your incredible hard work and dedication over the past year. Your time, energy, and commitment make everything we do possible.

12/19/2025

https://psf.ca/events/oceanside-hops-for-habitat/?utm_source=Pacific+Salmon+Foundation&utm_campaign=2ae6597e21-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_OCEANSIDE1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3daa1bf18-2ae6597e21-85330097&mc_cid=2ae6597e21

Join us in Oceanside at Fern + Cedar Brewing Company on January 28 for an evening benefitting wild Pacific salmon recovery.

12/19/2025

Dear Volunteers and Friends:
This holiday season, we wanted to take a moment to personally thank you all for the invaluable help you've provided at the hatchery this year. Your passion for conservation and the countless hours you've spent – whether it's tending our incubation process, feeding fry, cleaning tanks, construction projects, or monitoring water quality – all truly make a difference.
You are the backbone of this operation, and we simply couldn't do it without you. The dedication you show is inspiring to us all.
May your Christmas be filled with warmth, laughter and the continued camaraderie amongst our group.
Here's to a wonderful holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year!
Gratefully,
The Marion Baker Team.

12/08/2025

In an unexpected twist of nature, orcas have started wearing dead salmon hats once again, reviving a trend that had been abandoned for 37 years. These remarkable creatures, known for their intelligence and complex social structures, have long been observed displaying unusual behavior. The salmon hats, which orcas once wore as a playful habit, had disappeared, only to resurface recently in a fascinating return to form.

Why orcas wear these salmon hats remains a mystery, but it’s believed that the behavior may have been passed down through generations or may be an indicator of social bonding. Some researchers have even speculated that this behavior could be linked to the orca’s sense of identity, as they interact with one another through unique social rituals. It’s a quirky reminder of the complexity of animal behavior.

The return of this tradition is as much a symbol of orca culture as it is a curiosity in the animal kingdom. It demonstrates the deep-seated need for these creatures to express individuality and community in their own way. 🐋🐟

12/06/2025

The last of our egg take today. 3121 Coho. Final total 33, 909. In other news....Marion Baker Fish Hatchery has some new signage for our front gate. Thank you to all the volunteers who came out on this glorious sunny day. And a special thanks to the visitor keeping a close eye on the action and waiting patiently for the spoils

12/04/2025

Another successful egg take yesterday. Some great photos to show the tedious process of collecting eggs and milt (s***m) to placing in our trays ready for incubation. 6000 Coho eggs were taken yesterday for a grand total to over 30,000. 19 volunteers were on hand to help out with the operations and cleanup.

11/29/2025

A very productive day at the hatchery. DFO delivered our Chum eggs and we continued to harvest from our Coho capture.
STATS:
24,000 eggs taken from 15 Coho
and 100,000 Chum eggs put in the incubators.
Thanks to the many hard working volunteers that made the process run like clock work.

11/27/2025

11/23/2025

Kudos to our volunteers who even show up post-surgery for duties.