UBC experts on salmon run

Tel: Please contact Katherine Came at 604-827-4325

Email: w.cheung@oceans.ubc.ca

Interview languages: Cantonese, English

“This year’s strong salmon return should not distract from the longer-term declines observed in many populations. A single year of high returns can mask vulnerabilities. Collaborative restoration is essential, especially approaches that centre Indigenous governance and knowledge. Climate change remains a major risk, and more coordinated action is needed to build resilience in freshwater and marine habitats. Monitoring and adaptive management need more support, particularly in regions where local stewardship groups are leading the work with limited resources.”

Expertise:

• climate change, oceans, fisheries
• marine and coastal ecosystems
• conservation, adaptation
• fisheries management

Email: garzke@zoology.ubc.ca

Interview languages: English, German

“Climate change has a major impact on the quality of salmon food, which affects salmon growth and fitness. The production and transport of essential nutrients and fatty acids are especially affected by climate warming and ocean acidification. These aspects need to be included in management strategies such as ecosystem-based management or bottom-up management that is climate change-informed.”

Expertise:

• coastal and marine ecosystems
• climate change, ocean acidification, global warming
• zooplankton, plankton
• ocean ecology of salmon

* Unavailable starting Aug. 27

phone: 604-822-9377

Email: scott.hinch@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

• salmon migrations and ecology
• salmon fisheries
• fish conservation
• land use impacts (e.g. forestry) on fish and habitat

* Available Friday and Saturday (Aug. 22-23)

phone: 604-822-9152

phone: 604-822-1301

Email: etaylor@zoology.ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

“while the Fraser River sockeye salmon are well above expectations, which is welcome news, other west coast Canadian groups of salmon are having poorer returns (e.g., Yukon River Chinook and chum salmon, Okanagan River sockeye). I would also caution against attributing the increase in the Fraser to any single event or cause; we simply do not know. The remediation work on the Big Bar rock slide of 2019, however, certainly facilitated passage of this year’s improved run of sockeye salmon, especially the Early Stuart sockeye salmon.”

Expertise:

• possible threats to native fish
• native BC fish biodiversity
• fish biology and conservation
• biological diversity

Unavailable Aug. 25 after 10:00 a.m.