Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1379981
6 Spring 2021 psf.ca W hen it comes to understanding how salmon are actually doing, and how we can help – it's all about data. But what happens when the data are in a thousand different places – sitting on dusty shelves, stored in disconnected databases or filed away in people's heads? That's why, more than five years ago, with a major grant from the Sitka Foundation, the Strait of Georgia Data Centre was launched through the Pacific Salmon Foundation's Salish Sea Marine Survival Project. With information from more than 12,000 different documents, it is a one-stop shop for information on ecology, the environment and human use in the Strait of Georgia – and it's available to everyone. Ben Skinner, the Centre's geographic information system (GIS) specialist, is helping bring data queries to life through interactive tools like story maps. "Recently, we have been focused on forage fish," says Skinner. "Forage fish are small schooling fish that play a crucial role in the marine food web, providing food for many marine animals including orcas, birds and salmon. Data collected by citizen scientists around the Strait are added to an interactive map where users can easily see which beaches have been confirmed as forage fish spawning habitat." "The Data Centre brings together many different sets of data that can support decisions on restoration and protection of vital ecosystems," Skinner continues. "For example, World Wildlife Fund Canada is using the resource to collaborate with stakeholders and partners to advocate for better provincial coastal strategies and law reform." Dr. Isobel Pearsall, PSF's director of marine science, adds: "Right now we're working on an exciting new tool called the Strait of Georgia Marine Reference Guide, slated for release this summer. It will incorporate hundreds of layers across a variety of marine topics, ranging from ecological and environmental to STORY MAPS ARE ONE KEY TOOL EMPLOYED BY THE DATA CENTRE FOR VISUALIZING INTEL sogdatacentre.ca STRAIT OF GEORGIA DATA CENTRE ONE-STOP DATA SHOP The Strait of Georgia Data Centre is an invaluable well of knowledge for stewards across B.C. human use. And there are many practical applications. For example, boaters will be able to determine where not to anchor, thus avoiding sensitive habitat; stewardship groups will be able to identify who is working on what, ultimately strengthening collaborations and avoiding duplication of effort; and the list goes on. Needless to say, we're very excited and encourage anyone passionate about ocean stewardship to use it and spread the word!" n USE THIS QR CODE to take a look at our "Forage Fish in the Salish Sea" story map. Ben Skinner, a GIS specialist with PSF's Marine Science Program, crosses the Trincomali Channel via kayak from Saltspring Island to Galiano Island.