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7. The Strategic Salmon Health Initiative will be completed in March 2021
OBJECTIVE #3: Provide a foundation for long-term
monitoring of the Salish Sea and salmon health.
The Strait of Georgia Data Centre, (www.sogdatacentre.ca),
a partnership between Sitka Foundation, University of BC
and PSF provides a vital repository of historical data to
inform monitoring and restoration of the Strait. The Citizen
Science Oceanography Program has allowed us to collect
an unprecedented amount of annual oceanographic data
at spatial and temporal scales not previously attainable
and at a fraction of the cost of traditional research vessels.
The program has also provided the framework for ongoing
monitoring of the Strait's ever-changing environmental
conditions and its impacts on salmon, particularly when
supplemented with innovative applications of remote
sensing and ocean moorings through collaborations with
BC Ferries, Ocean Networks Canada and others.
The SSMSP has resulted in the expansion of many
monitoring programs and creation of new ones, including:
Continued DFO focus on seal and sea lion diet analysis
throughout the Canadian Salish Sea;
An augmented DFO zooplankton sampling program
(a critical development to assess annual variation);
Extension of oceanographic and salmon studies into
Johnstone Strait through collaboration with the Tula
Foundation on Quadra Island; and
A significant expansion of nearshore habitat restoration,
monitoring and marine debris removal through
Coast Restoration Fund support to Seachange, Project
Watershed (Comox) and Raincoast Conservation in the
Fraser River estuary.
The SSMSP project (SSHI, Strategic Salmon Health Initiative
7
)
has enormously improved our understanding of patho-
gens in BC salmon (wild, hatchery and aquaculture), and
supported the Genome Canada project 'EPIC4' studying
natural genetic variation in Coho Salmon and the effects
of hatcheries on Coho. Both of these research projects
are completing the research phase and progressing to
applications, including tools to monitor the health and
condition of our salmon. For example, researchers in the
SSHI have created a genomic 'fit chip' that can assess the
health of salmon, and they propose to develop a similar
capacity to assess cumulative effects on individual salmon.
As PSF completes the SSMSP and synthesis of results,
we are also considering how to address key gaps and
promote continued research. This will allow will also allow
for collaboration with government and stakeholders for
implementation of effective management actions and
continued collaboration between U.S. and Canada on
shared issues and science needs.
