sa国际传媒 has a provincial flower, mineral, tree, bird, mammal and tartan.
Now it's time for a provincial fish, say salmon supporters.
Non-profit conservation organizations Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fraser Basin Council and Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island Living Rivers are appealing for support in an effort to have wild Pacific salmon designated as sa国际传媒's provincial fish.
"Pacific salmon are part of the social, cultural, economic and environmental heritage of British Columbians," said Brian Riddell, Pacific Salmon Foundation CEO.
"They have helped shape our history and, for First Nations, the relationship with salmon goes back thousands of years."
Al Lill, Living Rivers manager, said the idea is being floated to figure out whether it has widespread public support before an approach is made to the government.
"Salmon mean an awful lot to the population as a whole in sa国际传媒 It seems like a really good rallying point," he said.
If response is strong enough, a request could be made this fall, Lill said.
One question not yet resolved is which variety of salmon is most iconic -- the bright red of the sockeye, feisty coho favoured by sports fishermen, big chinook or possibly pinks and chums.
"We have had a lot of debates and decided not to pick any one of them, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was some sort of First Nations representation of salmon," Lill said.
There could also be a practical reason for designating wild Pacific salmon as the provincial fish, said David Marshall, Fraser Basin Council executive director.
"Making salmon an official symbol could help raise awareness of the value of salmon and strengthen the public's commitment to manage this important resource for the benefit of future generations," he said.
Designation of a new provincial symbol comes under the Provincial Symbols and Honours Act, which is the responsibility of the premier, who looks at recommendations made by an advisory council.
To support the salmon bid, go to www.thinksalmon.com between now and Sept. 30. All comments will be sent to the province.
For those wondering about sa国际传媒's other symbols -- the flower is dogwood, jade is the mineral, the tree is Western red cedar, Steller's jay is the bird emblem, the spirit bear represents mammals and the tartan is red, blue, white, green and gold.
