Salmon Steward

salmon Steward magazine 19 CEO'S MESSAGE PSF's new Strategic Plan is charting a fresh course for salmon conservation T he Pacific Salmon Foundation has changed considerably during the past decade. Revising our Strategic Plan during the last year has provided our board and staff an opportunity to think critically about broader opportunities in Pacific salmon conservation and where PSF should focus in the next four years. Given the challenged conservation state of many salmon stocks, we are mindful of the need for clarity about where we can make the most meaningful difference for Pacific salmon. The great news is that PSF is a successful and stable non-profit that is on a growth trajectory. This is due to several factors, including expansion into science, enhanced credibility as a repository of salmon stock and habitat data, and continued success in our fundraising and communications. Our work to strengthen government relations in recent years has also resulted in strong investments in strategic programs like the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project. Last year's $5-million contribution from the Province of British Columbia, along with increased project funding from the federal Salmon Conservation Stamp, have helped PSF expand our scope and impact. We gratefully acknowledge that our donors and partners are at the heart of this success. In particular, I want to express gratitude to the many volunteers who do the heavy lifting for Pacific salmon conservation and restoration. This includes the groups we support through our Community Salmon Program, a growing network of citizen scientists, and volunteers who directly support PSF through our various fundraising activities. Thank you! The most obvious change in our Strategic Plan is that we expanded our mission statement to better reflect the organization we have become in 2020. In short, we added the statement that PSF is an "independent, thoughtful leader and catalyst." These words embody our core value proposition. INDEPENDENT: PSF acts first and foremost in the interest of the fish – Pacific salmon. We respect the many entities and people who have interests in Pacific salmon, but at the end of the day, our focus will be on doing what we believe is in the best interest of the health and sustainability of the fish and their habitat. THOUGHTFUL LEADER: PSF will always take the time to collect, evaluate and disseminate the best evidence to inform our perspectives, programs and policy advice in support of Pacific salmon. We are not adversarial nor partisan, because we believe it is in the best interest of Pacific salmon for all parties to work together. Broad collaboration and involvement are essential to our success. CATALYST: Government alone cannot restore Pacific salmon. As a nimble non- profit with strong ties in local communities and the private sector, PSF has the ability to move quickly and efficiently to help address critical gaps in Pacific salmon conservation. The best example of this is the salmon science and informatics work that PSF started in the last decade in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), universities, First Nations and many others. Our findings and tools are leading to concrete changes in the conservation and management of Pacific salmon. There are several ways that you will see this new mission statement manifested in the coming years, but here are a few areas of new focus: • "Salmon Leadership Workshops" focused on various Pacific salmon topics that merit clarity, planning and action; • a PSF-inspired "Climate Action Plan for Salmon" that will put more focus on freshwater and B.C. Interior issues such as impediments to fish passage, habitat plan- ning and restoration in light of forest fires, and promoting better water and riparian management amidst climate change; • collaboration with First Nations, including through the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, DFO and other conservation partners to assess, map and prioritize salmon habitat needs in the Lower Fraser; and • a review of Pacific salmon enhancement in British Columbia to compare production of hatchery-reared and naturally produced salmon, understand and improve the productivity of hatchery-reared salmon in the future, and evaluate hatchery release strategies and their effects on marine survival. I encourage you to read our Strategic Framework – "10,000-foot view" – which is included in this magazine on the next page. You can also learn more about our detailed strategies and anticipated outcomes at psfstrategicframework.ca. Our board and staff consider strategic planning an organic and continuous process in order to be most effective and timely. We welcome suggestions and ideas from our friends, and especially support for our work through a monthly tax- deductible contribution, attendance at a PSF fundraising event or a gift in your will to make Pacific salmon a part of your legacy ( psf.ca/support/donate-online). Thank you for your interest and support. Michael J. Meneer President & CEO Pacific Salmon Foundation Where We're Headed

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