Toronto's salmon run is back and you can see fish leaping high in the air
Fall is fast approaching, and that means that the salmon run is officially back and in full swing in Toronto. You'll notice an influx of these silvery, pink, and/or green and shiny fish in the city's rivers as they make their way upstream to lay their eggs in shallower shores.
For anyone new to the salmon run — don't worry, you're probably not alone — Brown Trout, Chinook, Coho, and Atlantic Salmon migrate upstream along Toronto rivers around this time of year, to lay eggs at spawning sites rich in oxygen for their young to hatch and grow.
These fish can often be seen leaping over weirs, fish ladders, and river rocks in plain sight, and there are plenty of hotspots along waterways like the Humber River where you can get quite an exciting view of this natural spectacle.
Jack Landau
One Reddit user goes to the lengths to declare that salmon are "one of the coolest animals, if not the coolest animal, in all of Canada." I guess you can be the judge of that.
Common places where you can easily spot the salmon include the Don River Fish Ladder — located off the Don trail — as well as areas along the Humber River, including Etienne Brulé Park.
Aside from these tried-and-tested locations, the Charles Sauriol Conservation Area is another one you want to add to your list.
One Toronto Redditor suggests, "You can see them from most of the bridges overlooking the river," here. You can also have a similar viewing experience at Raymore Park Dam.
The salmon run is a natural process that we're privileged to experience in the city, and, regardless of how high supermarket fish prices have grown, there is some debate on the quality of salmon caught during spawning season.
Ontario's Guide to Eating Fish notes salmon caught in Lake Ontario can contain harmful heavy metals accumulated from the food chain, like mercury, along with PCB contamination.
In addition, salmon of breeding size are typically not of the same quality as one would find at a supermarket fish counter. However, some online commenters maintain that there is nothing wrong with eating locally-caught salmon, spawning season or not.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) keeps the community informed throughout the season, allowing the public to track sightings of salmon. You can also report sightings and help the TRCA stay up-to-date.
Jack Landau
The conservation authority also hosts the TRCA Adventures of Salmon, taking place on October 5, at Morningside Park, where visitors can get an up close and personal look at the salmon's migration cycle and how the city is helping the fish thrive in local waters.
If you're a nature enthusiast or simply want to go check out a cool display of leaping fish from the water, now's your chance to head on over to our local tributaries and see the salmon run for yourself, with spawning season lasting throughout late summer to early fall.
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