Salmon Steward

photos: eiko Jones photography 4 Fall/Winter 2014 psf.ca Their work: In the early 1980s, when salmon survival was high, the seal population in the Strait of Georgia was approximately 10,000. But with new seal protection laws, the population exploded through the '80s and early '90s to approximately 40,000 — coinciding with a sharp decline in Coho and Chinook marine survival rates. That's why University of British Columbia doctoral student Austen Thomas developed a new "seal beanie" technology for the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project that literally measures the amount of juvenile salmon consumed by individual seals. The project is taking a critical next step this November by testing the technology on a wild seal; previous tests have used a captive seal from the Vancouver Aquarium. Moreover, while the technology currently only measures consumption of salmon species that are large when they enter the estuary (i.e. Coho and Steelhead) this next phase of the project will test modifications that will allow all salmon species to be measured. Thomas expects an actual deployment on 20 wild seals, possibly in Cowichan Bay, in the spring of 2015. Their impact: "This important phase of the project will ensure the instruments are ready for a field deployment on wild seals in the spring of 2015, and may allow us to start measuring Chinook predation in addition to Coho," says Thomas. "This study will help finally answer the question of how much harbour seals contribute to the high mortality rates of juvenile Coho and Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea." educaTing coasTal communiTies and resToring eelgrass ParTner: Seachange Marine Conservation Society Their work: Eelgrass meadows provide critical salmon habitat in estuaries — and they are in decline. Eelgrass offers shelter from predators and important foraging habitat for young salmon by supporting the small aquatic creatures salmon feed on. The restoration of eelgrass also has resounding impacts for other species, as more than 80 per cent of commercially important fish and shellfish species use nearshore and estuary environments supported by eelgrass. The good news is that eelgrass is resilient if protected. With the support of scientists, community stewardship groups will work to bring back lost eelgrass habitats around the Strait of Georgia as quickly as possible. As of September 2014, through the outreach and work of the Salish Sea Nearshore Conservation Project, community volunteers from nine coastal communities have restored more than 1,100 square metres of eelgrass habitat in Sechelt and Saanich inlets, the Squamish and Cowichan estuaries, and three Gulf Islands. Their impact: "Engaging coastal communities in nearshore marine restoration is one of the high points of this project," says project coordinator Nikki Wright, "as the more captivated folks are by the beauty of nearshore life, the more likely they will reach others to conserve its complex and lively ecosystems." Next steps for the project will involve continuing stewardship of eelgrass habitats in 14 coastal communities, including educational presentations and workshops for the public and local and regional governments. "seal beanies" reach a milesTone ParTner: University of British Columbia and Vancouver Aquarium This fall's hottest seal accessory, the "beanie." nikki wright (far right) works with community volunteers at an eelgrass planting event in sechelt. inset photo: Volunteers attach washers to anchor eelgrass shoots to the ocean floor.

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