Over 80 fish species live, spawn, feed and rest in the river. 300 types of invertebrates, including shrimps and crabs, use the estuary. Approximately 750,000 waterfowl and 1.2 million shorebirds use the estuary as a major stop along the Pacific Flyway between the Arctic and South America. The estuary has the largest population of wintering shorebirds and raptors, including eagles and hawks, in Canada. This mixing of fresh and salt water results in a highly productive and diverse environment.
Estuaries are among the most biologically productive areas in the world.