Bottlenecks to Marine Survival of Chinook, Coho & Steelhead in the Salish Sea & East Coast Vancouver Island Rivers
Recent declines in the abundance of salmon/ steelhead in the salish sea have resulted in numerous ecological, economic and cultural impacts in British Columbia.
The BCCF Vancouver Island team is currently engaged in a multi-year research program designed to investigate the potential "bottlenecks" to marine survival of chinook, coho & steelhead on the East Coast of Vancouver Island.
The primary components of this project are:
1. Implementing an extensive juvenile salmon/steelhead PIT taggin program and establishing PIT antenna arrays in a number of priority freshwater systems and hatchery facilities
2. Investigating the ecology of juvenile salmon during their first ocean winter
3. utilizing PIT and video technology to electronically monitor recreational fishery catches and better understand predation mortality
4. Examining survival, disperal, mortality mechanisms and evaluating alternative hatchery strategies as conservation tools for juvenile and adult steelhead
This project is conducted in partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, BC Ministry of Forests Lands, Natural Resources, and Rural Development & the Department of Fisheries & Oceans with funding provided by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF)
Gold River Steelhead Decline Investigations
Steelhead stocks in the Gold River have recently plummeted and BCCF is conducting research in an attempt to learn more about the status of these populations and ecological factors that may have affected them.This project is being conducted in partnership with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources, and Rural Development with support from several sources, including, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Campbell River/Elk Falls Gravel Replacement
BCCF conducts habitat restoration in the Campbell River by re-introducing spawning gravel in Elk Falls Canyon where it no longer receives natural upstream gravel recruitment due to the presence of BC Hydro’s John Hart Dam.This project is conducted in partnership with the BC Ministry of Forests Lands, Natural Resources, and Rural Development, as well as BC Parks, with support from the BC Fish and Wildlife Compensation program
Cowichan and Koksilah Riparian Restoration
BCCF is conducting the restoration of riparian habitats on the Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers in partnership with Cowichan Tribes, with support from the Coastal Restoration Fund (DFO)
Comox Lake Cutthroat Trout
BCCF is conducting population and life-cycle research regarding coastal cutthroat trout in Comox Lake in partnership with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources, and Rural Development, and with support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Cowichan Chinook and Coho Studies
BCCF is conducting life-cycle and predation research on Cowichan River Chinook and coho salmon stocks in partnership with Cowichan Tribes as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), with support from the Pacific Salmon Commission
Cowichan Lake Lamprey Spawning Surveys
BCCF is conducting ongoing research to understand the habitat requirements of the unique, SARA listed, Cowichan Lake Lamprey on behalf of the BC Ministry of Environment
Cowichan Shoreline Stewardship Project
BCCF is managing the restoration of riparian habitats on Cowichan Lake and upper Cowichan River in partnership with the Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society as well as Cowichan Tribes, with support from numerous sources including the Coastal Restoration Fund (DFO) and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Cowichan Steelhead Population Dynamics
BCCF is conducting research on Cowichan River steelhead stocks to provide a better understanding of population dynamics such as marine survival, kelting rate, as well as juvenile and adult run timing.This project is conducted in partnership with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources, and Rural Development as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), with support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund