> Backgrounder: Report urges major changes in salmon management
Backgrounder: Report urges major changes in salmon management
Contact:
Randall Peterman, School of Resource and Environmental Management, 778.782.4683; peterman@sfu.ca
John Reynolds, Biological Sciences, 778.782.5636; john_reynolds@sfu.ca (reachable via email this week)
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
Randall Peterman, School of Resource and Environmental Management, 778.782.4683; peterman@sfu.ca
John Reynolds, Biological Sciences, 778.782.5636; john_reynolds@sfu.ca (reachable via email this week)
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
May 15, 2008
Two Simon Fraser University professors are contributors to a high-profile report that recommends sweeping changes to the way in which salmon are monitored and managed in the Skeena River watershed in Northern British Columbia.
Dr. Randall Peterman and Dr. John Reynolds, who both hold research chairs in fisheries science at SFU, collaborated with Dr. Carl Walters from UBC and Oregon fisheries consultant Jim Lichatowich on an Independent Science Review Panel. The Panel was funded by the non-profit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and sanctioned by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and B.C.’s Environment Ministry.
The Panel reviewed current scientific knowledge and management of salmon and steelhead in the Skeena River watershed, one of the world's most diverse and productive salmon-bearing ecosystems. In recent years, there have been substantial conflicts over commercial, recreational, and First Nations fisheries and serious concerns about conservation of salmon and steelhead populations.
The Panel's report, which has been widely anticipated, is being released today (May 15). It recommends a new governance structure, ways to improve communication among parties, and changes in methods used to monitor and manage salmon and steelhead.
"Government personnel cooperated fully and we received a huge amount of input from the people who most depend on the fish and their habitats," says Reynolds. "One of our most disturbing findings was that fish habitats are threatened by many large developments, including mining, coal-bed methane, and pipelines, but neither the federal nor provincial biologists have sufficient resources or the mandate to have effective input into the approval processes."
The Panel identified additional monitoring and data collection necessary to improve fisheries management and implement Canada's Wild Salmon Policy, while taking into account interests of First Nations people and the sustainability of commercial and recreational fisheries.
"A major difficulty faced by decision makers in such situations with complex and conflicting objectives is how to estimate tradeoffs among interest groups implied by particular management decisions," notes Peterman. "The report contains some novel scientific analyses to help decision makers do this."
The Panel will present its findings at a public meeting in Terrace, BC, on June 10th from 9 – 5 p.m. at the Best Western Terrace Inn. Officials from the DFO, B.C. Environment Ministry and the Skeena Fisheries Commission, along with members of the public, will provide comments on the report.
Dr. Randall Peterman and Dr. John Reynolds, who both hold research chairs in fisheries science at SFU, collaborated with Dr. Carl Walters from UBC and Oregon fisheries consultant Jim Lichatowich on an Independent Science Review Panel. The Panel was funded by the non-profit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and sanctioned by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and B.C.’s Environment Ministry.
The Panel reviewed current scientific knowledge and management of salmon and steelhead in the Skeena River watershed, one of the world's most diverse and productive salmon-bearing ecosystems. In recent years, there have been substantial conflicts over commercial, recreational, and First Nations fisheries and serious concerns about conservation of salmon and steelhead populations.
The Panel's report, which has been widely anticipated, is being released today (May 15). It recommends a new governance structure, ways to improve communication among parties, and changes in methods used to monitor and manage salmon and steelhead.
"Government personnel cooperated fully and we received a huge amount of input from the people who most depend on the fish and their habitats," says Reynolds. "One of our most disturbing findings was that fish habitats are threatened by many large developments, including mining, coal-bed methane, and pipelines, but neither the federal nor provincial biologists have sufficient resources or the mandate to have effective input into the approval processes."
The Panel identified additional monitoring and data collection necessary to improve fisheries management and implement Canada's Wild Salmon Policy, while taking into account interests of First Nations people and the sustainability of commercial and recreational fisheries.
"A major difficulty faced by decision makers in such situations with complex and conflicting objectives is how to estimate tradeoffs among interest groups implied by particular management decisions," notes Peterman. "The report contains some novel scientific analyses to help decision makers do this."
The Panel will present its findings at a public meeting in Terrace, BC, on June 10th from 9 – 5 p.m. at the Best Western Terrace Inn. Officials from the DFO, B.C. Environment Ministry and the Skeena Fisheries Commission, along with members of the public, will provide comments on the report.