Salmon Steward

salmon Steward magazine 5 L ast year, the Pacific Salmon Foundation began to implement a revised three-year Strategic Plan with a set of exciting new initiatives that will guide us into our fourth decade of work for Pacific salmon. One of the first new initiatives is First Nations engagement. We have always had successful working relationships with British Columbia's First Nations. Expanding this engagement further has the potential to provide significant benefits to First Nations, the Foundation – and of course, Pacific salmon. First Nations clearly have strong ties to salmon, which makes them a natural partner for us on projects in communities across British Columbia. The Foundation has already begun acting on this new priority with the appointment of board member Brenda Gaertner, who as a lawyer has successfully acted on behalf of First Nations for many years. Another key element of our new Strategic Plan is increased outreach in the Yukon. Pacific salmon are as important there as in B.C., and they face similar challenges when it comes to conservation. The change in the state of Yukon River Chinook salmon is one of Canada's most important conserva- tion concerns. First Nations along the river have been particularly a‡ected as they have had to cease fishing for the past two years due to poor Chinook returns. With this in mind, the Foundation will be looking to increase community involvement in the restoration of salmon stocks and salmon habitat, with a particular focus on Chinook salmon. Pacific salmon science remains a strong component of the Strategic Plan, and the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project will continue to be our main focus through to its conclusion in 2018. A key part of the Project is the Citizen Science Program, which has nine boats operating in overlapping areas up and down the coast, all of which are collecting information that will be key to gaining a better understanding of what has been happening to Pacific salmon in the Salish Sea – and what can be done to create a more productive ecosystem. The Foundation also plans to remain actively engaged in public policy initiatives, with a specific emphasis in the coming Setting the Course for the Future chair's message The Foundation is supporting the efforts of the Pacheedaht First Nation to stabilize the San Juan River in Port Renfrew. Pacheedaht First NatioN YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS

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