Salmon Steward

may be the direct cause of mortality, but fish condition is determined by their environment, and determining their susceptibility to predation is also being considered; C. Indirect factors like ecological shifts, habitat loss, contaminants and disease are also being studied. In actuality, multiple factors likely interact each year, but to varying degrees. Consequently, to explain these variations, we should monitor each of these factors within each year. This intensity of study cannot be undertaken every year, but will be during a three-year time frame of the Project (which is another reason that the Project is so unique). in a nUtshell The Foundation may have created the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project and paid for it largely with private funds; but we should acknowledge that the Project has only been possible due to the expertise, laboratories and equipment that already existed in our local government departments, universities and community groups. We have great capacity in British Columbia to tackle big questions but sometimes we need a creativity push … and yes, money. The Salish Sea Marine Survival Project also has some fundamental differences from past research efforts. First, the broad scope and integration of many studies conducted simultaneously is differ- ent from past studies that largely focused on individual species, in specific places and times. In es- sence, the Project aims to address all factors, everywhere, and their simultaneous interactions. Second, the Project engages an extensive collaboration of researchers and organizations to facilitate the scope of studies. Third, the Project is investigating the loss of salmon within an ecosystem context by integrating the many individual studies into an ecological framework for understanding the mechanisms determining the survival of Pacific salmon in our nearshore marine waters. Finally, the Project is also targeting action-oriented management recommenda- tions. We will build out from these hypotheses to determine whether the causes of weak Chinook, Coho and Steelhead survival are locally determined (how have we affected local watersheds and seas?) or globally driven (larger-scale climate impacts and ocean effects). Local impacts will result in recom- mendations for local actions to improve the Strait of Georgia ecosystem, whereas globally driven impacts will lead to recommendations to adapt to our changing environment. Last but not least, I want to thank the more than 100 individuals, businesses and foundations that have donated to or pledged support to the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project, as well as the Government of Canada for including funds for the Project in Budget 2015. I especially want to recognize Rudy North, who has been working with us for the last couple of years to help raise the funds we need to make this effort a reality. We still need to continue raising $400,000 annually to keep the Project going at full speed and we are always finding new opportunities to improve our understanding of the Salish Sea. Please contact us at support@psf.ca to learn more about opportunities to support our work with a tax-deductible donation. salmon Steward magazine 7 salmon Steward magazine 7 Left: Volunteers pitch in to plant eelgrass. Below: Scientists are employing advanced genetic analysis to get to the root of high salmon mortality rates. Fluidigm donated use of a second BioMark machine to accommodate very high volumes of samples.

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