Advice From a Salmon- Stress Is Bad For Your Health! Brood collection, egg takes and fertilization best practices. 19
Presented by: TBD Session Full
Join us for a session on broodstock and gamete collection and egg fertilization - reducing stress every step of the way is reflected in the quality and survival of your stock. Sign up for methods, pointers and some hands on practice on river safety; planning; adult capture, handling, holding, transport and spawning.
Fish Health 101 22
Presented by: TBD 154 seats left.
We all want healthy fish. Understanding what makes your fish tick will help you recognize what can make them sick. The anatomy and physiology of fish dictates their responses to pathogens and environmental changes. Most fish health issues are the result of a complex interaction between the fish, a pathogen and the environment that they share.
Stream Bugs (Aquatic Invertebrates) our Ambassadors to Stewardship 24
Presented by: TBD Session Full
Collection, identification and life history, with Bug Stories and Tips for teaching to schools, streamkeepers and public on presentation and equipment.
Need money for your projects? Let`s talk about how to get it! 30
Presented by: TBD 14 seats left.
This session will host presentations to help give you ideas on how to successfully get funding for your projects through grants and other fundraising methods. Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion giving attendees a chance to ask questions, receive advice and share their own fundraising successes.
Diet studies can help us understand how ecosystems function and how they are changing. Will Duguid (UVic and PSF) will provide an introduction to key salmon prey groups and discuss what salmon diets are teaching us about British Columbia`s marine food-web, including insights on Pacific Herring. This presentation will include the opportunity to check out diagnostic bones of British Columbia forage fish under the microscope. Information will also be provided on participation in ongoing research.
"Kus-kus-sum saltmarsh restoration for salmonids - the restoration hat trick" 43
Presented by: TBD 2 seats left.
This presentation will explore the Kus-kus-sum project, an initiative to acquire an industrial sawmill site on the Courtenay River and restore it to functioning estuarine habitat for salmonids. It will delve into lessons learned and how salmon restoration can accomplish the triple win or"hat trick" of benefitting fish and wildlife, building in climate adaptation / mitigation strategies and providing opportunities for reconciliation in action.
Long time DFO fish culturist Ted Sweeten will be discussing new strategies and techniques for optimum incubation survival. Join us on this amazing journey to understand what is happening inside the egg as we handle them from first division of their cells to ponding.
Returning Salmon- DFO Streamkeepers Module 12 including Adult Salmon ID 26
Presented by: TBD 10 seats left.
How to identify salmon, enumerate your returns and some secrets they reveal when we spend time with our dead.
The Return of Giants - the increase in Humpback Whales off BC`s coast 32
Presented by: TBD 1 seat left.
This presentation will highlight the work of northern Vancouver Island`s Marine Education and Research Society. They will discuss what they have learned as a result of studying individual Humpback Whales - from a new feeding strategy, to song, to how the whales return to specific areas of BC`s coast, to the threats of collision and entanglement. They will also discuss what is still unknown about some of the biggest animals on the planet.
Salmon Habitat Restoration in a Changing Time 35
Presented by: TBD 149 seats left.
Pacific salmon need our help. Climate change, habitat loss and fishing pressures have negatively affected Pacific salmon at every stage of their lifecycle. The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative will guide a strategic and coordinated long term response to these issues, rooted in collaborative action, to stabilize and restore Pacific salmon and salmon habitat for the people, communities and ecosystems that depend upon their sustainability. Join Dale Derochers and and Scott Northrup to gain an understanding of how one strategy, the Salmon Habitat Restoration Center of Expertise, will support and restore salmon habitat into the future.
Big Bar- Serving Up Enhancement 36
Presented by: TBD 9 seats left.
A discussion on the history of the Fraser River Big Bar project starting with the land slide and leading up to present day. An overview of the rock removal, monitoring, assisted transport and emergency enhancement activities conducted on stocks impacted by the slide.
Examining survival bottlenecks for juvenile Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead in the Salish Sea 40
Presented by: TBD 1 seat left.
The British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) have initiated a large scale stock assessment program on the East Coast of Vancouver Island for Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead utilizing PIT tag technology. This project PIT tags juveniles in hatcheries, estuaries and the marine environment (in the first winter of residency) with the goal of understanding stage specific survival of stocks of interest and the potential mechanisms of impacts. This presentation will present an overview of the program to date, preliminary results, and discuss the future of the program.
The Power of Art in Community Engagement 45
Presented by: TBD 19 seats left.
Art is a powerful means for drawing attention to stewardship issues including protecting habitat, and promoting and caring for fish and wildlife. Join Paul Cipywnyk to learn about the Stream of Dreams Murals Society and the watershed-based education and public art program they offer in schools across BC. DFO will also be on hand to share info about the Storm Drain Marking Program, find out how to use this road art program to send a strong watershed stewardship message in your community.
Participants will learn how to assess physical characteristics of stream habitat in order to compare sites or streams with confidence, monitor long-term changes, or document impacts of suspected habitat problems. This is a "hands-on" workshop so be prepared to work outside in a local stream (and hopefully not get your feet too wet!).
Have your identification ready at the checkpoint! - Juvenile Salmonid ID and Trapping 27
Presented by: TBD 162 seats left.
Identifying juvenile salmonids can be tricky, catching them even more so! Come for a talk on different juvenile trapping techniques for rivers large and small from across BC. Followed by examples on how best to identify juvenile salmonids, an aquarium will have live salmonids and possibly other fishes from a local river for practical learning.
Our workshop will consist of the dissection of adult Coho Salmon, with overview of their vital organs and brief description of functions of the organs.
Building a Strong Community: Innovative Strategies for Growing Your Organization and Membership 29
Presented by: TBD 3 seats left.
This panel presentation and discussion will bring together a variety of voices from the salmon enhancement community to share their insights and experiences on innovative ways to support, promote, and grow your organization and membership. Topics covered will include recruiting and managing volunteers, liability and insurance, effective community engagement, utilizing social media for outreach, incorporating new techniques and technology, and creating an inclusive and supportive community. Join us to learn from and gain practical tips and advice for growing your own organization and community.
Transition, protection, and restoration of wild salmon by the Broughton Aquaculture Transition Initiative (BATI), which is made up of the Kwikwasut`inux`w Haxwa`mis, the Namgis, and the Mamalilikulla First Nations.
Using Photography & Video to Boost Public Engagement in Stewardship 44
Presented by: TBD 3 seats left.
An avid nature and wildlife photographer, Paul Cipywnyk uses photography and video to engage the public and news outlets through social media. He will share tips on effective photography and social media promotion. Paul`s background is in education, journalism, and communication. He has volunteered with the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society in Burnaby, BC, for over 20 years, and represents streamkeeper groups in the lower Fraser area on the Salmonid Enhancement & Habitat Advisory Board to DFO.
Late Afternoon Sessions
Rearing and Release? No we are not talking about your kids!
Presented by: TBD 20 seats left.
Please join us for a presentation on rearing and release strategies used by the Salmonid Enhancement program hatcheries in BC. We will review the numerous applied methods which allow us to raise and release healthy salmon for optimal survivability and focused enhancement initiatives.
Salmon and Watershed Education from Stream to Sea - at the Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre
Presented by: TBD 16 seats left.
Join local DFO-Stream to Sea Coordinator Trudy Lacasse for an interactive tour of the Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre. She will be joined by guest educators to guide you through the world of salmon, sharing tools and ideas for your own watershed education programs.
Stewarding salmon in a changing climate
Presented by: TBD 159 seats left.
British Columbians are wondering when the state of Pacific Salmon will return to normal. In a changing climate `normal` no longer exists. Business as usual approaches are no longer enough. Join our State of the Salmon team to explore what is needed to prepare for and manage the changes salmon are already beginning to experience.
Green Gold in the Emerald Sea
Presented by: TBD 4 seats left.
The survival of salmon fry is greatly enhanced if there is eelgrass habitat for them to hide in and forage in as they transition to the sea. Mature salmon also benefit from having an eelgrass bed to hide and feed in before heading upstream to spawn. Eelgrass habitat has been lost through anthropogenic impacts over the last 150 years. The Federal and Provincial governments have recognized the importance of eelgrass habitat and are funding many projects to enhance salmon habitat by restoring eelgrass habitat.
Riparian Planting and Restoration
Presented by: TBD 5 seats left.
If you love fish and stream restoration and don’t know any of the following terms: riparian restoration, alluvial, semi-alluvial and non alluvial. You need to see this presentation.
What happens on the beach stays on the beach- Exploring the world with a beach seine
Presented by: TBD 1 seat left.
Hands on experience using a beach seine at a local site. Walk the net out and then collect fish and invertebrates in buckets so we can observe them and learn a bit about their life histories. All specimens will be returned to sea.
