Salmon Program Team:

Misty MacDuffee, Biologist
Mike Price, Biologist: Salmon and Aquaculture
Michelle Nelson, Biologist and PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University

Why wild salmon?

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:

• over-fishing and mixed-stock fisheries,
• salmon farms,
• climate change and ocean conditions,
• habitat loss (from logging, development and micro-hydro projects),
• salmon enhancement (from hatcheries or spawning channels)

Raincoast’s work

Raincoast’s wild salmon initiatives are part of a coordinated effort among diverse groups including First Nations, coastal communities, Simon Fraser University and other academics. Our on-the-ground activities are working toward increased salmon conservation of abundance, diversity and habitat on the coast. Some of our active projects include:

• Understanding connections between coho fry and spawning chum salmon in coastal streams, to identify linkages that should be considered in ecosystem management.
• investigating infection levels of sea lice on juvenile salmon (smolts) throughout the salmon farming region of the Discovery Islands.
• Investigating ambient infection levels of sea lice on juvenile salmon (smolts) in the salmon farm-free area of Bella Bella.
• Undertaking reconstructions of historical salmon abundance using lake sediments
• Assessing the status of salmon populations on the central and north coasts
• Identifying and documenting small salmon streams not previously known for salmon presence

Media

• Island Tides - Chris Genovali Silent Fall and Ghost Runs Dec 18 2008
• Globe & Mail -Editorial Salmon Populations: Watch more streams Dec 6 2008
• Times Colonist - Judith Lavoie Monitoring gaps endanger salmon runs Dec 4 2008
• Globe & Mail - Mark Hume Overfishing pushing salmon stocks near collapse Dec 3 2008
• Monday Magazine - Silent Fall: BC’s vanishing wild salmon means trouble for all Nov 2008
• Times Colonist - Mike Price - Letter to the Editor May 17, 2008
• Georgia Strait -Chris Genovali Calculating the true cost of salmon farming April 2008
• Vancouver Sun - Stephen Hume Sea lice are spreading. Is the government noticing? January 23, 2008
• Vancouver Sun- Stephen Hume Alarm over sea lice spreads- January 28, 2008

Reports

Discovery Islands Interim Sea Lice Monitoring (2008)

This report documents significantly higher lice levels on juvenile chum, pink, and sockeye salmon near salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. We found 2,706 lice on 1,065 infected juveniles, for an average prevalence level of 40%; this compares to 4% lice levels among the central coast region of Bella Bella, where no salmon farms operate.

Central Coast Sea Lice Monitoring Base-line Report (2007)

This report documents natural occurrence levels for sea lice infecting juvenile salmon among BC’s central coast. The study region of Bella Bella is absent of salmon farms. We identified 86 lice on 2, 071 juvenile salmon, for an average prevalence level of 4%.

Juvenile Salmon Migration Mapping Report (2007)

Raincoast investigated juvenile salmon habitat use along BC’s central coast in order to identify primary migration routes. This is a year-one report

Small Streams Report 2003-2006 (2006)

This report documents 127 previously undocumented salmon-bearing streams surveyed on BC’s central coast between 2003-2006.

Death by a Thousand Cuts: The importance of small streams on British Columbia’s central and north coasts (2005)

This report describes the role of small salmon runs in the overall structure and genetics of salmon populations. It is a response to the increased effort of federal monitoring of large salmon-bearing streams, at the expense and health of small runs.

Salmon in the Great Bear Rainforest (2005)

This popular summary gives an overview of the importance of salmon in the ecosystem and Raincoast’s work to protect the abundance and diversity of salmon.

Ghost Runs: The Future of wild salmon on BC’s north and central coasts (2002, Original Report)

An assessment of wild salmon status, threats and the necessary changes to ensure the survival of wild salmon in the Great Bear Rainforest.

• Recommendations
• Part One
• Part Two

By Chris Darimont
Research Scientist
Rainforest Wolf Program
Guttural roars and the cracking of bone drown out any sound of the river, which by this time of year has slowed to a mere trickle.  On its banks, blood-soaked muzzles plunge into fallen prey as if it were their final meal.  Bulbous bellies - stretched into submission - compel [...]