Fraser River | Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Join us at the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Vancouver

Published on 2019 10 21 | by Ross Dixon, Communications & Development Director | in Raincoast updates

A small coho salmon fry swim on the bottom of the lake.

Along with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, Raincoast is chairing a traditional session at the upcoming Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference April 19-22, 2020 Vancouver Convention Centre Vancouver BC. The session, Toward a vision for Ecological Resilience in the Lower Fraser River, session ID1438, is accepting abstracts until November 1st. Our goal is to bring together […]

Research: Habitat use by juvenile salmon, other migratory fish, and resident fish species underscores the importance of estuarine habitat mosaics

Published on 2019 09 09 | by Raincoast | in Scientific Literature

An expansive view of a Raincoast scientist working in the field in the Fraser River estuary.

Pacific salmon, especially Chinook and Chum, reside and feed in estuaries during downstream migrations. But the extent to which they rely on estuaries, and which habitats within estuaries, is not well understood. We need to understand this complexity if we are going to enact effective conservation policies. This is especially important in urban systems where habitat loss is ongoing, and at different rates across the estuarine mosaic. The Fraser River estuary, for example, supports a multitude of fish species…

Terminal 2 expansion at Roberts Bank jeopardizes salmon recovery efforts

Published on 2019 08 23 | by Chris Genovali, Executive Director | in For the coast

A container ship get loaded at a terminal near Vancouver.

Given the ecological challenges that Fraser River salmon, including juvenile salmon, face at this point in history, now is not the time to increase pressure on their rearing grounds in the Fraser estuary by increasing the footprint of the Terminal 2 project on Roberts Bank….

Approval of Trans Mountain expansion puts Fraser River salmon and Salish Sea estuaries at risk

Published on 2019 07 09 | by Misty MacDuffee, Dave Scott, & Chris Genovali | in For the coast

Salmon circle on the rocky bottom of the Fraser River.

The Fraser River in British Columbia remains one of the world’s most productive salmon rivers. Equally significant is the Fraser River’s estuary, which serves as vital habitat for fish, bird, and mammal species that are linked across thousands of kilometers of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. All Fraser River populations of salmon…

The Fraser River estuary is fragmented by structures that alter the flow of water

Published on 2019 06 21 | by Alex Harris, Communications Associate | in Inform

Salmon fry pool in the estuaries of the Fraser River.

The first phase in Raincoast’s five-year restoration project in the Fraser estuary was making breaches in the Steveston jetty to allow young salmon access to Sturgeon Bank, a safe, marshy habitat that gives them an easier transition from river to ocean…

Great news: juvenile salmon moving through habitats reconnected after 100 years

Published on 2019 06 19 | by David Scott, Raincoast Lower Fraser Salmon Program Coordinator | in Conservation update

Raincoast Fraser River crew sampling juvenile salmon in the east breach.

Since the removal of sections of the Steveston jetty in February, we have been sampling our new jetty ‘breaches’ and have consistently caught juvenile salmon moving through them! This is a huge success and was realized just weeks after…

Fraser estuary research completed for 2018

Published on 2018 09 25 | by David Scott, Raincoast Lower Fraser Salmon Program Coordinator | in Notes from the Field

Raincoast scientists aboard their boat on the Fraser River getting the seine nets ready to do their summer research.

After a long five months we have now wrapped up our 2018 field season in the Fraser estuary, our best year yet! This year our team spent 76 days in the field and we captured more than 35,000 fish, including over 6,400 juvenile salmon. While it has been a long and hot season with a […]

Heart of the Fraser: Ecological stronghold faces imminent threat

Published on 2018 09 18 | by David Scott, Raincoast Lower Fraser Salmon Program Coordinator | in Conservation update

An aerial photo of the stunning vista and sunset over the Heart of the Fraser.

The Fraser River is an incredibly productive and important ecosystem which has supported abundant populations of salmon and sturgeon for thousands of years. However, in a few short centuries humans have drastically modified habitats throughout the watershed…

30th Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Seattle

Published on 2018 04 02 | by Raincoast | in Events

A clear day at Turn Point, on the Salish Sea.

This week Raincoast will join hundreds of scientists, First Nations and tribal government representatives, policy makers, community members and conservationists at the 30th Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference, in Seattle. As the largest and most comprehensive conference focused on the Salish Sea, the event is an important opportunity to progress this years theme: Ecosystem Recovery in an International Transboundary System…