Thirteen public meetings to gather knowledge from local and Indigenous communities in support of salmon rebuilding and recovery in the Pacific Northwest.
A pair of Chinook caught in the ocean
Credit: Nick Longrich
In spring 2024, researchers from the UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries conducted the Salmon Dialogues; Thirteen (13) public meetings across BC to collate local community knowledge, with the goal of more effectively rebuilding Pacific salmon production. Participants included First Nations, community members, stewardship groups, consultants, recreational fishing, finfish aquaculture, and government.
Feedback revealed a collective desire for continued commitment in the form of a more collaborative, coordinated approach to the conservation and protection of Pacific salmon across BC. In support of this direction, six recommendations emerged:
Fisher hold fresh caught salmon
- The protection of existing wild populations and habitats should be the priority.
- A more localized or regional process for restoration is needed.
- Cumulative effect assessments over the life cycle of salmon should be incorporated.
- More consistent support for community engagement and stewardship is needed.
- Science that is based on community knowledge and engagement should be supported.
- A salmon restoration endowment should be established to ensure core annual support.
In addition to these community dialogues, interviews were conducted with salmon researchers, providing complementary and independent insights. Reinforcing many of the views expressed in the community discussions, these insights highlighted ongoing challenges to salmon despite conservation efforts, fragmented and ineffective restoration strategies, gaps in monitoring and evaluating restoration projects, the importance of adequate government support, the need for integrated watershed and marine management, and enhanced collaboration among science, communities, and Indigenous knowledge.
The Community Discussion on the Future of Pacific Salmon: Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Needs (Salmon Dialogues) was made possible with funding from the University of British Columbia (UBC) – Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
The Principal Investigator was Dr. William Cheung, Director of the UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries with the project design, leadership and implementation led by Dr. Brian Riddell and Deana Machin, Project Coordinator and Senior Indigenous Advisor with the Indigenous Watersheds Initiative.
- Learn more about Salmon Dialogues.
- Read the full report on the community dialogues.
- Learn more about IOF’s Pacific salmon research.
Tags: Aboriginal fisheries, Brian Riddell, British Columbia, Chinook salmon, community, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, fisheries management, Indigenous fisheries, Indigenous Watersheds Initiative, Pacific Ocean, recreational fisheries, salmon, Salmon Dialogues, watersheds, William Cheung