SoS - Agency Partnerships Initiative

Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada

Project Update

Vision

Escapement and catch estimates for each salmon species by Conservation Unit (CU) will facilitate implementation of Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy and the conservation of salmon biodiversity by making it possible for DFO researchers to more readily report on salmon status and trends and access key data for use in CU assessments.
» View scope of work diagram.

Sponsors

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, State of the Salmon Program (Ecotrust & Wild Salmon Center)

Team

Coordinators
Cathy Kellon, SoS
Mark Saunders, DFO

Developer
Karl English, Principal, LGL Limited

Customers

DFO research and management staff
State of the Salmon Program

Status (last update: 5/26/09)

We initiated work with DFO staff at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo in 2008 to develop a summarized catch and escapement data set by Conservation Unit (CU) to support assessment and reporting under the Wild Salmon Policy and establish the groundwork for eventual public access to escapement, catch rate, and salmon status information in BC and Yukon provinces.

July — December 2008
The project kicked off with an articulation of the project’s vision and scope of work. A contract was signed with LGL to develop the needed information in close consultation with DFO biologists. Work continued on validating key escapement monitoring streams.

January — June 2009
Indicator streams were linked to Conservation Units (CU) and validated. First methodology workshop was held with DFO district and regional biologists in February to determine approach for estimating abundance and harvest rate by CU. Summary of results and initial CU trend analyses developed. Second workshop to be held in June to review and discuss analytical results.

July — December 2009
Validate datasets; develop and document necessary databases to maximize utility to DFO researchers; and evaluate next steps, including an approach for making this information available to the public. The project is scheduled for completion at the close of 2009 with a final project report.

Project Overviews

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

We're working with the ODFW Research Lab in Corvallis to create a web and database system to:

• Make it easier for ODFW staff to track their progress towards meeting conservation goals for coastal coho.

• Provide public access to frequently requested data and information on salmon and aquatic habitat in coastal Oregon and the Lower Columbia region.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada

We're working with DFO staff at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo to develop a summarized catch and escapement data set by Conservation Unit (CU) to:

• Ensure DFO researchers have ready access to standard, core information needed to assess biological status of CUs.

• Establish the groundwork for eventual public access to escapement, catch rate, and CU status information in BC and Yukon

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

We're working with ADF&G's Copper River and Prince William Sound Commercial Fisheries staff in Cordova to create web and database systems to:

• Make it easier for ADF&G staff to enter, edit, retrieve, and analyze escapement, age, sex, size and harvest data.

• Provide public access to frequently requested data and information.