Salmon Steward

Fall 2021

Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada

Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1408862

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salmon Steward magazine 7 (TOP LEFT) AMY ROMER DR. ANDREW BATEMAN Climate change means warming waters that create stressors – such as disease and low oxygen – which affect salmon health. Andrew (right) joined PSF three years ago to manage our partnered research with DFO and Genome BC on salmon health, which includes investigating the impact of open-net aquaculture on wild and hatchery salmon stocks. Currently he is developing a new PSF Salmon Ecological Health Program focused on understanding where and when salmon face challenges that impact their health and survival. Says Andrew: "We will identify where along the coast salmon are the most – and least – compromised. In addition to measuring 'stressors,' we will use environmental (e)DNA that captures cellular and genetic debris present in the ocean from across the salmon food chain." Teck has been a generous supporter of PSF for over 10 years. Their latest donation of $30,000 will support studies of infectious agents like parasites and disease-causing pathogens that are endangering Pacific salmon in the Discovery Islands and the Broughton Archipelago. SALMON SCIENTISTS Meet the TEAM! Thanks to historic government investments in wild Pacific salmon, our ranks are growing! Here are a few of the PSF scientists helping salmon adapt to climate change. To learn more about PSF's work on climate change, contact Cory Matheson: cmatheson@psf.ca. WATCH: Andrew and PSF CEO Michael Meneer talk "Salmon Health and Salmon Farms" on web series Salmon Matter. LIAM COLEMAN Liam is a postdoctoral researcher studying how climate change impacts habitat- forming seaweeds across B.C.'s coast. His research aims to characterize the range of temperatures that some local seaweed species can tolerate. Liam is also working on a biobank to store germplasms of bull kelp and other seaweeds as "backups" for future restoration efforts. Says Liam: "Some local seaweeds, including the iconic bull kelp, have been declining in numbers in the Salish Sea in recent years. This is believed to be largely driven by warming oceans. Continued loss of these seaweeds could have serious impacts on salmon and other fishes." RBC's two-year, $200,000 commitment has been dedicated to examining how climate adaptation projects can benefit preservation of nearshore habitats in the Salish Sea. Funds will also help develop a seed bank for marine plants. KYLA SHEEHAN Kyla is the project manager of PSF's new Green Shores for Salmon program being delivered in partnership with the Stewardship Centre for BC. The five-year project is aimed at boosting awareness of climate change impacts to shorelines, encouraging adoption of nature-based solutions that replace hard surfaces like seawalls, and providing free training to land- use professionals. Says Kyla: "We're working alongside keen citizen scientists to conduct shoreline mapping along the coastlines of Vancouver Island that will highlight key ecological shoreline features as well as the extent of human shoreline modifications." JAKE DINGWALL In the Strait of Georgia, one of the impacts from climate change is higher surface water temperatures and less available dissolved oxygen. Using data collected by PSF's citizen science team, Jake is constructing a map showing the range of depths salmon are confined to during spring and summer to avoid stressful conditions. Says Jake: "This map will be available on the Strait of Georgia Data Centre's Marine Reference Guide, to help decision-makers understand which areas of the Strait are becoming more and more unsuitable for salmon as climate change progresses." n Andrew on a trip to gather DNA samples in Quatsino Sound. Liam collects kelp in Stanley Park. Kyla studies the Fraser estuary for her masters applied research project. Jake investigates a rock sample for geological mapping.

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