6 spring/summer 2020 psf.ca (TOP) JEREMY KORESKI
VP of Salmon Jason
Hwang answers a few
pressing questions for
Pacific salmon in B.C.
What has PSF done to ensure
action on the Big Bar slide and how
it impacts survival of upper Fraser
salmon stocks in B.C.?
T
he Big Bar issue is vitally important
to all populations of Fraser River
salmon that migrate past this point, and
failure to fully restore salmon passage
will have serious biological, economic and
socio-cultural consequences. Data from
the 2019 return is still being compiled, but
it is clear the salmon that arrived early,
when flows were highest, were severely
impacted, with less than one per cent
survival for the most impacted populations.
A coordinated team comprised of the
federal government, the provincial govern-
ment and First Nations representatives is
leading the response. As of April, there has
been a measure of progress with successful
blasting of some of the rock, but there is a
risk that the problem will not be resolved
for 2020. The response team is developing
contingency plans if the migration barrier
is not fully resolved. There will be a need
for ongoing work to help the affected stocks
recover, and PSF will continue to support
this work.
What is PSF doing to study climate
change impacts and what more can
be done this year to mitigate effects?
T
he Salish Sea Marine Survival
Project (SSMSP) has identified
several climate change-related factors
that may be affecting salmon in the Salish
PSF
HOT
TOPICS
November site visit to the Big Bar
slide with experts from Pacific Blasting.
