Rescuers are working hard to airlift thousands of salmon to safety. The salmon are trapped in part of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapped since a landslide in June. The landslide means the salmon cannot swim upstream to spawn (lay their eggs). Conservationists have spent several weeks looking at how to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other side of the landslide by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding ground. Rescuers have been "working around the clock" to help the salmon.
If the fish cannot lay their eggs, the local salmon population will be at risk. Salmon numbers will fall to dangerously low levels. This will impact many of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food. Salmon also play an important role in the culture and traditions of these people, who have lived along the river for hundreds of years. Their way of life will continue thanks to the rescuers. The rescuers are looking at other ways to help the fish. Rescuers said three million salmon want to swim north of the rockslide, so they need alternate methods to help the fish.