Our little Coho have been growing fast and now the time is approaching for their fin clipping here Chapman Creek Hatchery.

We clip their adipose fin with surgical scissors in order to mark them as hatchery raised salmon. This mark identifies them for when they return from their ocean journey, and sportfishers are able to distinguish them from wild stock which is closely monitored by DFO's regulations. 

Fin clipping here at the Chapman Creek Hatchery is an annual event. Many people from our local community volunteer their time, eyes and hands to do this delicate task and, more often than not, end up with very cold hands but big smiles on their faces.

Everyone is welcome to join us for fin clippng here at the hatchery. We welcome newcomers, and enjoy teaching everyone 'how to clip'. If you want to help out, just call 604-885-4136 or drop by the office to sign up.

Free lunch and snacks are served daily to all of our dedicated volunteers who perform this task in all sorts of weather...sun, wind and rain. This year the homemade soup will be served daily by our volunteer Board of Directors...that is if they are not out clipping fins with everyone else. Come on along - join us - because the company is great and the cook says the soup will be delicious.

Don't forget that every day you volunteer you get a ticket to enter the volunteer's  raffles - the prizes will be on display at the hatchery. 

For those who just want to watch, this autumn the Creek is providing everyone with an opportunity to see the salmon returning. Remember, there is always someone around who can give new anglers a few tips on what's biting, and where, here on the Creek.

For those who do not fish, we always have trout for sale and can easily net some for anyone who wants to take some home - they're always a great BBQ treat.

The hatchery and gift-shop are open between 10am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday. 

As conscientious community volunteers, we had hoped to host this educational event in Fall 2011, to provide our local community with a further opportunity to learn about the ecosystems which support the salmonids lifecycle, and to observe Nature's Wonder as the salmon come home and display their spawning ritual.

Unfortunately, this year we were unable to acquire the funding necessary to hold this important community event. Never-the-less we encourage everyone to come down to Chapman Creek to view the returning salmon as the creek begins to swell, with the recent autumn rains, to assist the salmon on their final journey.

The above pictures are from Rivers Day 2010  

For further information about creek conditions, please call the hatchery @ 604-885-4136. 

We'd like to thank local Roberts Creek printer, Jason Silverstone, of Vital Signs for telling us about the contest, Quinn Barabash for helping construct the sign collage, our local community newspapers, The Local and The Coast Reporter, for helping spread the word, and everyone in the community, both far & wide, who took the time to vote for us.

A special thank you to the volunteers and members of the SCSES for working so hard to to help us participate in the contest.

The above picture is collage of our many signs which we have acquired over the almost 20 years of our existence. 

While we did not win this contest for new signs we still hope to acquire and install easily recognizable professional-quality signs around the Coast to help more people discover us.

Once again, thank you to the entire community for all of your support.

In 2010, Chapman Creek Hatchery moved all of it's fish off site, blocked the water intake from Chapman Creek and spent the month of August working on maintenance projects. Photo above shows excavator and members of the SIB resource team replacing the intake culvert.

Partial Funding for this project was provided by the Pacific Salmon Foundation. For more information about the project and the generous support of local contractors and businesses please click here.