Wild Salmon Program
Misty MacDuffee, Lead Biologist
Andy Rosenberger, Biologist and Analyst
Salmon are not only an important food and cultural focus for First Nations and communities, they are the foundation of British Columbia’s coastal ecosystems. For millions of years, Pacific salmon have journeyed back to their natal streams and lakes to spawn, delivering a critical protein source to wildlife, and nutrients to ecosystem processes.
The Great Bear Rainforest is home to over 2,500 salmon runs. Many of these rivers are still intact, offering a unique opportunity to study the linkages between salmon and the larger food web. However salmon in this region are faced with increasing threats many of which have depressed and extirpated salmon populations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The following activities can threaten the abundance and/or diversity of wild salmon:
- MSY fishing models, over-fishing & mixed-stock fisheries,
- parasites & disease from salmon farms,
- changing ocean processes and climatic conditions,
- habitat loss (from logging, development and hydro projects),
- salmon enhancement (from hatcheries or spawning channels)
Raincoast’s wild salmon initiatives are the product of coordinated strategies between diverse groups including First Nations, coastal communities, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, UC Santa Cruz, other academic institutions and other NGOs. Our policy recommendations and advocacy on behalf of salmon conservation and wildlife is informed by our research.
Raincoast actively engages governmental agencies and other stakeholders to influence Fisheries Management decision making in consideration of sustainable fisheries and often overlooked ecosystem needs.
Managing Salmon for Wildlife
Many coastal species rely on salmon for survival, however these needs are not taken into account in salmon management policies. Raincoast advocates Managing Salmon for Wildlife: meeting the needs of the entire ecosystem, not just fisheries quotas.
Juvenile Salmon Ecology Project
Examining whether salmon farms situated along the migration routes of juvenile salmon are disrupting survival of sockeye, chum and pink salmon is the focus of our Juvenile Salmon Ecology Project.
Salmon Stream Ecology Project
Examining connections between coho fry and the eggs and carcasses of spawning chum salmon in coastal streams is the focus of our Chum & Coho Stream Ecology Project.
Small Streams Surveys
Raincoast has engaged in Small Stream Surveys to document salmon presence in uncatalogued small streams and then expand this to other areas of the central and north coasts of BC.
Paleolimnology of Salmon Lakes
Studying the Paleolimnology of Sockeye Lakes and the influences of fishing pressure, nutrients, climate and other factors that can effect abundance of sockeye salmon.
Fishing plan decreases protection for BC’s endangered salmon
Conservation groups are concerned federal fishing plan impacts endangered salmon runs when sustainable fishing alternatives are available…
What the Exxon Valdez anniversary has to do with Canada’s wild salmon
Misty MacDuffee & Chris Genovali / Huff Post
March 24 marks the 25th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill…
Northern Gateway risks Canada’s wild Pacific salmon
Misty MacDuffee & Chris Genovali / Island Tides
Consequences to Canada’s wild salmon from the Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project are not a risk worth taking…
Embroiled: Salmon, tankers and the Enbridge Northern Gateway Proposal
New Report by Raincoast says Northern Gateway not worth the risk to BC’s wild salmon…
Bears, salmon and forests: new research on old connections
Raincoast and UVic scientists finds new reasons to support the importance of bears and salmon for tree growth in the ancient forests of Haida Gwaii…