Salmon Steward

10 FALL/WINTER 2018 PSF.CA One fishing guide gives back to the resource via a stalwart commitment to citizen science Recreation & Conservation By Jason Assonitis, Owner, Bon Chovy Fishing Charters; PSF Donor AS A PROFESSIONAL FISHING GUIDE in the Salish Sea for over 20 years, I have been fortunate to make a living and enjoy a lifestyle that revolves around Pacific salmon. Each year, I spend 150 to 200 days on the water, which has enabled me to build a unique perspective on the Salish Sea while contributing to salmon research. With the support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, our Vancouver- based fishing charter company has partnered in a number of key ongoing conservation and enhancement projects, including: • Sandy Cove Sea Pen Project: Led by Vancouver Sport Fishing Guides Association, our group has successfully reared 100,000 Chinook in sea pens each spring for release into Vancouver Harbour. Now in our 10th year, the data has shown survival rates to be about two to three times higher than conventional hatchery releases. • Avid Angler Program: Managed and supported by DFO – for the last five years we have collected DNA samples from Chinook and Coho. This data is key for stock identification in local fisheries. • Salish Sea Marine Survival Project: From February to October, alongside other citizen scientists, we provide PSF with oceanographic measurements to assess physical and chemical changes in the Salish Sea. This data will be used for modelling initiatives, and to understand changes in the biological productivity of the Strait of Georgia. • Salmon Head Recovery Program: We collect hatchery salmon heads and our charter o•ce is a designated Salmon Sport Head Recovery Depot. The program uses coded wire tags to determine where and when di—erent Chinook and Coho stocks migrate in the ocean. • False Creek Herring Rehabilitation: We deployed nets to enable herring to spawn on pilings in key areas of False Creek under the guidance of the Squamish Stream Keepers. • Chinook and Coho Diet Study: Under the leadership of Will Duguid, a researcher with the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project, we provided key data to the University of Victoria's Fisheries Ecology and Marine Conservation Group. • Fundraising: We donate charter packages every year to PSF's community dinners to raise funds for their science programs. Our charter company is not alone in its e—orts; thousands of recreational anglers, including fishing guides and lodges, volunteer their time to support salmon in British Columbia. And the Pacific Salmon Foundation plays a key role in bringing salmon, industry and community together. We look forward to continuing our support of their tireless e—orts to maintain and work towards healthy salmon stocks in the Pacific Northwest. Things are, without a doubt, improving in the Salish Sea; over the last few years, myself and other anglers from Vancouver to Campbell River have experienced some of the best Chinook fishing in decades. With PSF's continued leadership, I am very optimistic that salmon, and all that rely on them, will have a bright future. Jason Assonitis volunteers at a grow-out pen in West Vancouver.

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