Black Kokanee

The rare and remarkable Black Kokanee blanket the Shore of Anderson Lake as spawning begins. Found only within Anderson and Seton Lakes and a single lake in Japan, with each spawning season completely variant depending on the lake. Originally Sockeye Salmon, they became landlocked after the collapse of the northwest face of Mount Seton, cutting the single, deep lake in two.

The odyssey of the black colouration is attributed to the depth at which the Black Kokanee now resides (bottom dwelling at roughly 700feet) and spawn (average of 160feet); where the normally red colouring is not necessary for attraction and to create and maintain the bright external pigment is too draining on their system. The Natives that populate the area refer to the fish as Gwenish and used to harvest net fulls as they float to the surface from inflated bladders during spawning. They were then wind dried and an important consistent source of substance for the communities.

As the spawning season begins, it draws hundreds of eagles to the area for an easy winter food source and the trees become speckled with white tales and heads, like that of a direct contrast to the waters, spotted with the pure black of the dyeing Black Kokanee.

“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”#khalilgibran ?

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