The Hakai Institute Salmon Early Marine Survival Program
Presentation Abstract
The first months after salmon enter the ocean have been identified as a potentially critical period determining marine survival. Survival during this early marine phase may ultimately be responsible for interannual variability and long term declines in salmon stocks, including Fraser River sockeye that contribute to the largest salmon fishery in BC. Fraser River sockeye, comprise a complex of > 30 stocks, the majority of which spend the critical early marine period in the Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait. The environmental conditions across these regions may therefore be of particular importance to understanding stock fluctuations of Fraser River sockeye, as well as other co-migrating salmon species. Hakai Institute’s Salmon Early Marine Survival Program (SEMSP) was initiated in spring 2015 to investigate the factors influencing the growth, condition, and ultimately survival of juvenile salmon in the northern Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait region. The SEMS program is a collaboration between the Hakai Institute, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, and the Salmon Coast Field Station. A mobile small-boat fleet, equipped with mini purse seine nets, is used to conduct high spatio-temporal resolution sampling of juvenile salmon during the peak outmigration period (April to July). Parallel measurements of ocean conditions are made by the Hakai Oceanography Program. Data are being collected on ocean conditions and regional prey availability; juvenile salmon feeding biology, growth and condition; and pathogen and parasite loads. These data are being examined to determine the extent to which they interact to shape the northern Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait as a critical region for the early marine survival of Fraser River salmon. Here we report on the first successful field season, detail the laboratory processing steps that are being implemented at Hakai’s Quadra Island research station, and present preliminary data on migration timing and fish condition.
Session Title
General species and food webs
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Pacific salmon--Research--British Columbia; Sockeye salmon--Research--British Columbia--Fraser River; Salmon--Conservation--British Columbia; Habitat conservation--British Columbia
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); British Columbia
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
The Hakai Institute Salmon Early Marine Survival Program
2016SSEC
The first months after salmon enter the ocean have been identified as a potentially critical period determining marine survival. Survival during this early marine phase may ultimately be responsible for interannual variability and long term declines in salmon stocks, including Fraser River sockeye that contribute to the largest salmon fishery in BC. Fraser River sockeye, comprise a complex of > 30 stocks, the majority of which spend the critical early marine period in the Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait. The environmental conditions across these regions may therefore be of particular importance to understanding stock fluctuations of Fraser River sockeye, as well as other co-migrating salmon species. Hakai Institute’s Salmon Early Marine Survival Program (SEMSP) was initiated in spring 2015 to investigate the factors influencing the growth, condition, and ultimately survival of juvenile salmon in the northern Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait region. The SEMS program is a collaboration between the Hakai Institute, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, and the Salmon Coast Field Station. A mobile small-boat fleet, equipped with mini purse seine nets, is used to conduct high spatio-temporal resolution sampling of juvenile salmon during the peak outmigration period (April to July). Parallel measurements of ocean conditions are made by the Hakai Oceanography Program. Data are being collected on ocean conditions and regional prey availability; juvenile salmon feeding biology, growth and condition; and pathogen and parasite loads. These data are being examined to determine the extent to which they interact to shape the northern Strait of Georgia, Discovery Islands, and Johnstone Strait as a critical region for the early marine survival of Fraser River salmon. Here we report on the first successful field season, detail the laboratory processing steps that are being implemented at Hakai’s Quadra Island research station, and present preliminary data on migration timing and fish condition.
