Speaking for the salmon series (1998-present)
Disclaimer:
The Speaking for the Salmon series was part of the Centre for Coastal Studies and Management. This centre was shut down in 2015. CRMI is housing the resources and will continue projects in the series.
The Speaking for the Salmon series examines issues impacting the survival of wild salmon in British Columbia. Programs in the series include community workshops, scientists' think tanks, town hall meetings, dialogues, proceedings and video presentations.
Below is a list of events/projects starting from most recent.
2017
The Protection of Pacific Wild Salmon: Understanding potential risk factors and seeking solutions
January 26-27, 2017
Inivitational Scientists' Think followed by an Information Session for Community Leaders and Policy/Decision Makers
The think tank included national and international scientists and examined the status of BC wild salmon and threats and solutions to reduce risk factors, using salmon aquaculture as a case study to address the specific recommendations of the Cohen Commission and assess the current status of the implementation of the Commission recommendations and the Wild Salmon Policy. Recommendations and findings from the session were presented to community leaders and policy and decision makers directly following the think tank.
Recommendations from the Think Tank: View →
Video Resources
1. A ten minute video which features various participants identifying threats and solutions. View →
2. If you want to hear more on individual perspectives, there are ~two minute video clips from participants who addressed the following questions:
- What do you think is the most important thing we can do to protect wild salmon on the BC coast?
- Based on your expert knowledge, what is the major threat to wild salmon on the BC coast?
- What can we do about it?
View individual videos: →
Presentations:
- Returns in 2016 and trends over time coast-wide
Brendan Connors, Senior Systems Ecologist, Essa, Vancouver, BC
- Update on salmon assessments in BC
Karl English, Vice-President, LGL, Victoria, BC
- Assessing the status of Pacific salmon populations and their habitats: A case study in the Skeena River Basin
Katrina Connors, Director, Skeena Program, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver, BC
- What are the threats to Pacific Wild Salmon? Can we assess the risks? What are the cumulative impacts?
Eduardo Martins, Liber Ero Post-doctoral Fellow, SFU, Burnaby, BC
- Salmon Aquaculture - a case study: threats and solutions
Threats: update on diseases and parasites
Kristi Miller-Saunders, Head, Salmon Genetics, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC
Martin Krkosek, Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionaary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario
- Salmon Aquaculture - a case study: threats and solutions
Threats: Update on diseases and parasites in BC Salmon
Rick Routledge, Professor Emeritus, Statistics and Actuarial Science, SFU
Alexandra Morton, Biologist, Raincoast Research, Simoom Sound, BC
Espen Rimstad, Professor, Life Sciences/Veterinary School, University of Oslo, Norway
- Salmon Aquaculture - a case study: threats and solutions
International and national examples of siting policy
Inge Døskeland, Senior Advisor, Department of Regional Development, Hordaland County Council, Norway
Sigurdur Gudjonsson, Director, Marine & Freshwater Fisheries Inst., Keflavic, Iceland
Paddy Gargan, Senior Research Officer, Inland Fisheries, Dublin, Ireland
Ian Fleming, Professor, Ocean Sciences Ctr., Memorial University, St. John’s, NL
- Salmon Aquaculture - a case study: threats and solutionsSolutions: BC Siting in detail, including current status of process and implementation
Karen Calla, Director, Aquaculture Management Division, Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver, BC
- The Wild Salmon Policy – taking stock
Brian Riddell, Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Status of Cohen Commission Recommendations
Craig Orr, Conservation Advisor, Watershed Watch Salmon Society
- Global overview of closed containment as a technical solution
Steve Summerfelt, Director of Aquaculture Systems Research Freshwater Institute, Shepherdston, West Virginia, USA
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2013
Free Public Presentation on the findings of the Scientists' Think Tank on Charting a Course of Action on Cohen Commission Recommendations
February 27, 2013
Statement from Scientists' Think Tank
Timeline for science recommendations
Information Gaps and Research Needs identified by Cohen Commission
Presentation Announcement and Details
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February 25 - 26, 2013
Scientists Think Tank on Fraser Sockeye Salmon: An Uncertain Future
Charting a Course of Action on Cohen Commission Recommendations
The federal Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye in the Fraser River was established in November 2009. The mandate of the Commission was:
- “to consider the policies and practices of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans” with respect to the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery;
- “to investigate and make independent findings of fact regarding … the causes for the decline”, the current state of stocks, and the long-term projections for those stocks, and
- “to develop recommendations for improving the future sustainability of the … fishery”.
This Commission released their final report, containing 75 recommendations, in October 2012.
“I trust that my report will contribute to an improved understanding of Fraser River sockeye salmon, and that my recommendations will improve the future sustainability of the sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River.” Bruce Cohen, October 29, 2012
The focus of this meeting will be the science-related recommendations of the Commission.
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2011
November 30 - December 1 2011 - Managing for Uncertainty: Pathogens and Diseases in Pacific Salmon - an invitational scientists' think tank (SFU Burnaby)
Scientists convened to discuss:
- What is known about pathogens and diseases in Pacific salmon and the evolution and ecology of diseases in wild salmon populations?
- What are the information and research gaps?
- What are the risks for wild salmon populations?
- How do we manage for uncertainty?
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2010
December 6, 2010 - The Ups and Downs of Fraser River Sockeye - A free public presentation (SFU Vancouver)
A panel of scientists discussed the findings from an independent think tank on the Fraser sockeye 2010 returns. The think tank addressed:
- Why was the return so large in 2010?
- How can you go from the worst to the best returns in one year?
- How do you manage for this kind of uncertainty?
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December 2-3, 2010 - Fraser Sockeye Think Tank (SFU Burnaby)
An invitational think tank of independent scientists to review the Fraser River Sockeye returns for 2010.
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April 26, 2010 - Land-Based, Closed-Containment Salmon Aquaculture Invitational Workshop (SFU Vancouver)
The objective of the workshop was to share perspectives and explore the viability of land-based, closed-containment salmon aquaculture. The goals were to:
- examine the current status of land-based, closed-containment salmon aquaculture,
- identify potential barriers to creating this new growth industry in BC, and
- develop an action plan to aid in moving this industry forward.
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March 30 - 31, 2010 - Summit on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon: Understanding Stock Declines and Prospects for the Future. A Public Dialogue (SFU Vancouver)
Participants examined issues from a life cycle approach to gain understanding of the challenges salmon face, and what can and should be done to ensure their survival.
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2009
December 7-8, 2009 - Adapting to Change: Managing Fraser sockeye in the face of declining productivity and increasing uncertainty. An invitational Think Tank of Scientists (SFU Burnaby)
In response to the disappearance of the salmon from the Fraser River in 2009, the think tank examined:
- Is marine/ocean survival the problem?
- What other factors must be considered to develop a better understanding of marine and freshwater survival?
- Do forecasts provide useful information to fisheries managers?
- How can we improve monitoring and management in a changing world?
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June 23-24, 2009 - Spotlight on legislation and policy protecting wild salmon biodiversity in BC - A Case Study: Interior Fraser coho salmon, a Community Dialogue (Kamloops, BC)
This community dialogue explored the legislation and policy protecting wild salmon biodiversity in BC by examining the case study of the Interior Fraser coho salmon.
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February 23 - 24, 2009 - Reconciling the conservation of wild salmon and the production of enhanced salmon under Canada's Wild Pacific Salmon Policy: A discussion (SFU Vancouver)
This workshop drew from different perspectives on ecology, conservation biology, modeling, economics, and social values to foster dialogue around the role of salmon enhancement with respect to the overall goals and stated direction of the Wild Salmon Policy.
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2008
December 8, 2008 - Salmon and Nutrients: A seminar on science and policy (SFU Burnaby)
The objects of this seminar were to examine the potential influences of salmon nutrients on their ecosystems and to identify the role of the Wild Salmon Policy in delivering sufficient marine-derived salmon nutrients to freshwater and riparian ecosystems.
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August 16-17, 2008 - Haig-Brown Symposium on Sustaining Wild Salmon: Moving from Words to Action - (Campbell River, BC)
As part of the Haig-Brown Centenary celebrations, this community dialogue addressed the challenges faced in the conservation of wild salmon while exploring what solutions and tools are available and how communities will play a role in the stewardship and management of the resource.
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May 23, 2008 - A Think Tank on Transferable Shares in the Salmon Fishery (SFU Vancouver)
This multi-stakeholder think tank convened to examine the following questions:
- Can transferable shares
- improve catch compliance monitoring, and stock assessment?
- reduce unintended biological (e.g., by-catch) and habitat impacts?
- lead to better overall performance (biological, management,
economic)?
- Do transferable shares make it prohibitively expensive to enter the fishery?
- Does catch share management lead to excessive concentration of fishing privileges in the hands of just a few owners?
- What do transferable shares mean in terms of First Nation fisheries and the PICFI process?
- Would transferable shares provide a better chance of achieving the conservation objectives of the Wild Salmon Policy?
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2007
November 29, 2007 - Encouraging Innovative Solutions for Salmon Aquaculture (SFU Vancouver)
This dialogue-based workshop examined and suggested innovative ways for the BC salmon aquaculture industry to move forward in a sustainable fashion, with minimal impacts on the existing wild salmon stocks and coastal ecosystems.
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June 4, 2007 - Fraser Sockeye Salmon: Moving from Talk to Action
The goal of this meeting was to identify what type of change in management of Fraser Sockeye Salmon is needed and to determine what will catalyze this change. Brief presentations guided dialogue as participants generated innovative ideas and practical solutions.
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March 6, 2007 - Salmon and Groundwater (SFU Burnaby)
The purpose of this meeting was to share information on the state of groundwater legislation in BC, to discuss criticall issues and geographic areas relative to groundwater and fish in BC and to describe steps needed to improve consultation and protection of groundwater and salmon habitat.
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January 25-27, 2007 - Summit of Scientists on Aquaculture and the Protection of Wild Salmon (Alert Bay, BC)
This summit focussed on the known science related to the understanding of interations between wild and farmed almon. To address the concerns of both local and international communites with respect to the impacts of aquaculture in the Broughton Archipelago, a community public session was held. This provided a rare opportunity for the local community to exchange knowledge with a group of international scientists and collectively seek solutions to reduce the impacts of salmon farms on wild salmon.
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2005
November 7, 2005 - Getting the Missing Fish Story Straight: Part II - A Ten Year Retrospective on Fraser Sockeye Salmon (SFU Vancouver)
This town hall meeting compared the 1994 Fraser Sockeye Review Board findings and the 2004 Salmon Fishery Post-Season Review and addressed the following questions:
- What are the obstacles and challenges to preserving biodiversity and what tools are available?
- What are the goals of the Wild Salmon Policy?
- How can we structure a more efficient and effective management system for Fraser sockeye?
- How can we rebuild and maintain capacity to manage Fraser sockeye?
- Where should the responsibility and authority lie for the protection of Fraser salmon for the people of BC?
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2004
November 18, 2004 Scientists' Roundtable on Sea Lice and Salmon in the Broughton Archipelago Area of British Columbia (SFU Vancouver)
Twenty-five scientists including those conducting research on sea lice and pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago, or with extensive knowledge of salmonids and (or) sea lice, came together in a Roundtable meeting and discussed sea lice and pink salmon in the Broughton.
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January 5-6, 2004 - A Community Workshop to Review Preliminary Results of 2003 Studies on Sea Lice and Salmon in the Broughton Archipelago Area of British Columbia (Alert Bay, BC)
To foster a two-way exchange of scientific and local knowledge, this workshop examined the preliminary results from these studies in an effort to make recommendations for action and to identify areas for further reearch.
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2003
June 10 - 13, 2003, World Summit on Salmon (SFU Vancouver and Satellite Community Workshop in Bamfield, BC)
This international summit examined the status of global fisheries, the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems and the future prospets of endangered and depleted fish stocks, and applied the lessons learned to improve the prognosis for wild walmon in the Atlantic and Pacific.
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2002
November 21, 2002 - Summit of Scientists: Nutrients and Salmon Production (SFU Burnaby)
The purpose of this workshop was to seek a better understanding of the relationship between nutrients and salmon production.
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July 22, 2002, Summit of Scientists on Sea Lice (SFU)
This summit looked at the ecology, impacts and natural history of the salmon louse (Lepeoptheirus salmonis). Participants identified research priorities and ways to address the louse issue.
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2001
June 5-6, 2001 - Hatcheries and the Protection of Wild Salmon (SFU Burnaby)
The goal of this international workshop was to examine the ecological, genetic, social and economic issues pertaining to enchancement and wild salmon.
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2000
November 26, 2000 - Rivers Inlet: An Eco-System in Crisis (SFU Vancouver)
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October 13, 2000 - Aquaculture and the Protection of Wild Salmon Follow-up to March 2000 Dialogue (SFU Vancouver)
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May 12, 2000 - Summit of Scientists: A Review of the DFO Wild Salmon Policy (SFU Burnaby)
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March 2-3, 2000 - Aquaculture and the Protection of Wild Salmon (SFU Burnaby)
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1999
June 1, 1999 - Pacific Coast Salmon: Status of Stocks and Habitat (SFU Burnaby)
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1998
October 13-14, 1998 - Thompson Steelhead: A resource in crisis? (Merritt, BC)
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June 13, 1998 - Summit of Scientists on the Scientific Underpinning of the 1998 Management Decisions for Pacific Coho Salmon (SFU Burnaby)
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May 8, 1008 - Stock Selective Salmon Harvesting (SFU Vancouver)
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January 13, 1998 - Speaking for the Salmon Inaugural Event (SFU Vancouver)
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1995
March 17, 1995 - Getting the Missing Fish Story Straight Part I (SFU Vancouver)
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