Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/407926
Robert Gayton Judy Hager The Patrick J. Connolly Family � Eric Peterson, Tula Foundation WJD (John) Woodward salmon Steward Newsletter Edition 7 communiTy VolunTeers lend Time and experTise Several initiatives under the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project will leverage the time, labour and invaluable local knowledge of community groups. seachange will engage volunteers to plant eelgrass in the Cowichan and other estuaries. ramona de graaf, who has been leading the charge in forage fish studies, will engage volunteers to monitor and map forage fish habitats. Thanks to the mary and gordon christopher foundation for a grant for this work. using genomic science To address salmon disease There is a strong belief within the scientific community that infectious disease may very well be a significant factor in salmon mortality, but not enough is known about which disease agents affect Pacific salmon in their natural habitats. Through a partnership called the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative, genome bc, fisheries and oceans canada and the Pacific Salmon Foundation are working to develop new genomic tools that will clarify the issue of disease. Though the initiative is being funded outside of the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project, the new tools will be applied to studies through the Project and help address key questions about salmon mortality. Genome BC is funding one-third of the project and Fisheries and Oceans Canada is providing access to labs, staff, vessels and equipment. Early this year, samples were collected and processed onboard fishing boats for DNA study. Thanks to donations of vessel time from canfisco, researchers were able to spend twice as much time on the water. n From left: Samples were collected and processed on boats this summer for genomic assessment; Hermes the seal works with Vancouver Aquarium trainers to get used to wearing the "seal beanie"; Dr. Kristi Miller-Saunders of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Pacific Biological Station is scientific lead for the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative (photo by Nik West). Below: a PIT Tag is implanted into a juvenile salmon for tracking purposes.