Officials at the Fraser River rock slide site say they have reached a milestone for moving salmon past the barrier.

Section head with the Department of Fisheries Michael Crowe says crews have now moved about 44,000 fish altogether.

“We continue to move more and more fish everyday. As of Monday, this was the first time we actually succeeded in moving three thousand fish in a single day, and this was a point of celebration for crews and the incident commanders as it was a target.”

He was asked how many fish might still be stuck behind the slide site.

“In actual fact, it is very difficult to give an estimate. Part of the challenge is, because of the blockage, fish are collecting but then they’re migrating, they’re moving up and downstream. So the systems that we have in place to monitor the fish downstream are being confounded by the multiple passages of the fish.”

Crowe also couldn’t say how many salmon would be passing the slide site if the rock slide hadn’t happened.

Crews have been moving salmons this month with a fish wheel, by three helicopters, and by creating a natural passage from rock scaling.

“We are continuing to expand this operation, and we’re hoping that a second fish wheel will be installed within the next day or so. It is right now on site but it is being assembled,” Crowe says. He adds crews are also hoping to use dip netting but says right now there are safety concerns in doing so.

Officials say the efforts so far have cost $6 million to date.

(Photo: Twitter: @DFO_Pacific)

Fish are being moved swiftly and safely by 3 helicopters. To date, over 44,000 #salmon have been transported upstream past the #BigBarLandslide site. pic.twitter.com/2nLJjTY3H0

— DFO Pacific (@DFO_Pacific) August 28, 2019