Salmon Steward

to help salmon better adapt to climate impacts, such as coldwater refuges and more rigorous management of water use. • Investment in science – we need to invest in better science to help us more eectively manage and address salmon issues. For example, recently our government announced $107 million to help implement the new Fisheries Act. A portion of these funds will be utilized to enhance stock assessment. Another good example is DFO's financial participation in the recent Gulf of Alaska Expedition (see p. 23) to help us fill gaps regarding why salmon returns from the deep ocean have been declining. • Predation – we need to look further into issues related to the impact of predation, particularly in regards to pinnipeds. • Inter-governmental collaboration – federal and provincial/territorial governments need to act in partnership, setting aside issues of jurisdiction to drive policies that will produce positive outcomes for salmon. In this space, the Province of B.C. and the federal government have recently agreed to work actively and collaboratively to make substantive and sustained progress. • Aquaculture – we need to take into account concerns that some have expressed regarding potential impacts of finfish aquaculture on wild salmon. In this regard, our government is moving to implement the precautionary principle in a more fulsome manner and is also moving towards area-based management of aquaculture. In addition, we and the Province of B.C. recently kicked o a study of aquaculture technologies – including closed-containment technologies – to help us understand how we may accelerate the deployment of technologies that could address environmental concerns that have been raised. Q What are some future opportunities you see for PSF and DFO to work together? PSF has been and will continue to be an important partner in eorts to support and restore wild pacific salmon. In November, I was pleased to announce a $5-million contribution to the Pacific Salmon Endow- ment Fund for support of PSF. Areas where I believe we will want to actively collaborate would include: salmon Steward magazine 25 Minister Wilkison visits the PSF #SalmonRoadTrip Boler at the 2018 Salute to Sockeye Festival with PSF board member Terry Lanigan (left) and his son, road trip captain Danny Lanigan (right). implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan; habitat restoration projects; scientific collaboration (including the work PSF is presently doing regarding pinnipeds); and defining an appropriate and eective path forward for aquaculture. Q "Salmon tales" are always welcome here. Any memorable fishing stories to share? One of my favourite experiences since becoming minister of Fisheries and Oceans comes from the day I spent on the Adams River attending the Salute to the Sockeye Festival. While there, I had the opportunity to suit up in hip waders and fishing boots and get into a rubber dinghy with a number of DFO fisheries biologists. As we drifted down the river, I heard from these scientists about the work that they were doing to assess and protect key salmon stocks. I then met up with a class of students and DFO sta who were tagging these beautiful Sockeye salmon and releasing them back into the water – something I was fortunate to participate in. It was a beautiful day and an amazing experience – one I will never forget. Minister Wilkinson, with his family, has lived on the North Shore for more than 16 years. (OPPOSITE & TOP RIGHT) OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, OCEANS AND THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD; (BOTTOM) DANNY LANIGAN

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