Salmon from freshwater to the ocean: there and back again

Knowledge integration across salmon life histories

Salmonids are keystone species in marine, freshwater and riparian ecosystems across the north Pacific region and essential to the sustenance, culture and economies of the region’s peoples. However, many salmon populations are in decline in the face of increasing pressure from human impacts acting at local to ocean basin scales. Within the past five years, 11 populations of Fraser River Chinook salmon, 10 populations of its sockeye salmon and both interior steelhead and coho salmon have been designated as either endangered or threatened and are under consideration for addition to Canada’s Species at Risk Act. Understanding salmonid population trajectories requires integrating knowledge types across their complex life histories that span freshwater, coastal and high seas ocean habitat.

In this webinar we brought together leading experts in salmonid research across the different life stages of Pacific salmon, to share their knowledge about their unique biology and its relation with key salmonid stressors in freshwater, coastal and high seas environments. The webinar also provided a forum to discuss approaches to integrating knowledge across salmonids’ complex life histories for a holistic understanding of population responses to change that can more effectively support adaptation, conservation, restoration, and management. Also considered were the critical existing barriers to achieving knowledge integration.