Salmon Coast

Our station cat Ruffy has his paw on the pulse! He is seated in a prawn trap being used for Emma Atkinson’s PhD research. Emma’s field tech Kate explained how the project aims to improve our biological understanding of the prawn-by-trap fishery in BC by investigating the population dynamics of Spot Prawns through trap surveys (data collection of size and stage distribution) and a field experiment on the post-release survival of prawns. Research investigating the population... dynamics of Spot Prawns is something that has been desperately needed and will help improve management and sustainability of this important fishery. All of us at the station, including Ruffy, feel lucky to watch this project evolve! #marineresearch #prawns #bcprawns #bcspotprawns #salmoncoastfieldstation #broughtonarchipelago

Happy Earth Day! We are so grateful to live and work on the unceded territory of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, in such a beautiful corner of the world. Salmon Coasters are inspired by these surroundings as they undertake research that aims to understand and protect the vital ecosystem and species of the Broughton Archipelago and beyond. What place on Earth inspires you most?... #EarthDay #wildsalmon #conservationresearch #salmoncoastfieldstation

A new paper, led by Salmon Coast alumnus Sean Godwin, shows that sea lice have developed a resistance to the primary parasiticide used to control lice on fish farms. The parasiticide, known as EMB, or SLICE, has been the primary method salmon farms use to limit on-farm sea lice populations. With increased resistance, outbreaks of lice on farms are more likely. These resistant lice can easily spread to wild salmon that transit through the same waters. As the paper states, Imp...ortantly, these data, and therefore our findings, were not shared via public reporting by industry or the federal regulator, but instead through an Indigenous-led monitoring agreement. These important data would not have been shared were it not for the hard work of members of the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, ‘Namgis, and Mamalilikulla First Nations. This knowledge is critical in the fight to protect wild salmon. You can read the full study here: https://buff.ly/3E926pP. To support vital salmon research, please visit https://www.salmoncoast.org/donate/

Another season of salmon research begins! Our team completed their first monitoring day of the year this past Friday. Salmon Coast has been monitoring the relationship between sea lice and juvenile salmon for over 20 years. To check out past reports and a complete list of publications related to research conducted at Salmon Coast, please visit our website at https://www.salmoncoast.org/salmon-coast-projects/sealice/

We're kicking off our 2022 field season by welcoming both new and returning researchers and volunteers up to Salmon Coast Field Station! Stay tuned for intros to the team and more info about the exciting work we'll be doing this year. :: Pierre Melion

Salmon Coast is a remote, boat-access only biological research station in Echo Bay, in the Broughton Archipelago, BC. We are looking for a maintenance worker during our field season from March 1 to October 30, 2021 (start and end dates may be flexible). Applicants must have a grade 12 education and maintenance experience. An ideal candidate would have an interest in wild salmon conservation and have worked at a remote logging, research, or fishing camp. We are offgrid, so exp...erience with energy systems is essential (e.g. generators, solar, and batteries). Other responsibilities include assisting with the installation of a new dock, renovations, and routine chores (e.g. repairs, firewood, brush clearing, waste management). The station is boat-access only, so experience on the water would be invaluable. The applicant should be comfortable with communal living with limited amenities. The candidate will be tasked with dewinterizing the station in March and winterizing the station in October. The position pays $16,800 Canadian ($2100/month); salary may be flexible depending on experience and available funds. In addition, accommodation and boat moorage is provided. The applicant is expected to live at the station for the season (March-October). There are town trips to Port McNeill every two weeks for supplies. Additionally the applicant will assist with field sampling, which includes collecting wild salmon, for 2 days a week. Due to COVID considerations, we are only accepting applications from BC residents, with priority to residents of Vancouver Island. To apply, please send an email titled Maintenance Worker 2021 and include the following: - A short cover letter - Your resume - Contact information for 3 references Review of applications will begin February 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

A haiku on the status of Pacific salmon in the #broughtonarchipelago, northeast Vancouver Island and mainland inlets. Check out the full report at: https://www.salmoncoast.org//status-of-pacific-salmon-in-/ (Photo credit: @aprilbencze) #howarethesalmon #keepcountingfish #wildsalmon #salmoncoastfieldstation

Did you know that most wild salmon populations in and around the Broughton Archipelago have low abundance, but many show the capacity to rebound if given the chance? Check out our newest REPORT and PODCAST to learn more! https://www.salmoncoast.org//status-of-pacific-salmon-in-/ #howarethesalmon #keepcountingfish #wildsalmon #Pacificsalmon #BCsalmon #salmoncoastfieldstation #weprotectwhatwelove

Did you know that the probability of detecting specific bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that infect salmon is 2.72 times higher in the water near active salmon farms when compared with control (inactive) sites? Dylan Shea, and fellow Salmon Coasters, just published a peer-reviewed paper on the topic. Check out our website for the full paper! https://www.salmoncoast.org/research/complete-publications/ #wildsalmon #edna #infectiousdisease #aquaculture #salmoncoastfield...station Photo credit: sea shepherd, Dylan Shea

We’ve been counting sea lice on baby salmon for 20 years. Check out how the little ones in the Broughton Archipelago are doing in our 2020 Sea Lice Report! https://www.salmoncoast.org/research/reports/ #salmoncoastfieldstation #longtermdata #sealice #wildsalmon

Salmon Coast was recognized as one of the top contributors to the BC cetacean sightings network for 2019. :) We love participating in this amazing citizen science project and contributing to an understanding of the abundance, distribution, and habitat use for cetaceans in the Broughtons. Be sure to download the WhaleReport app and contribute your own sightings! #citizenscience #whales #weprotectwhatwelove

Have you checked out the updated Pacific Salmon Explorer tool from the Pacific Salmon Foundation? https://www.salmonexplorer.ca/#!/ It lets you check on the status of wild salmon in your own neck of the woods. This view of habitat pressures is eye opening. Thanks to the folks at PSF who put together an awesome data-driven tool for wild salmon! #wildsalmon #data #pacificsalmonexplorer #watershed #conservation

This is what healthy juvenile salmon look like. When fish farms are absent or when sea lice are effectively controlled on farms, wild salmon survival improves. Visit our website to learn more. https://www.salmoncoast.org/research/complete-publications/ #fishfarmsout #wildsalmon #precautionaryprinciple (Peacock et al. 2013 Cessation of a salmon decline with control of parasites. Ecological Applications)... Photo credit @alexmorton4salmon

Did you know that sea lice from fish farms can affect migrating juvenile salmon for up to 30km from a farm source? This pink salmon was caught near the Discovery Islands this spring. Visit our website to access scientific papers about the relationship between fish farms and wild salmon health. https://www.salmoncoast.org/research/complete-publications/ Photo credit @tavishcampbell #fishfarmsout #wildsalmon #precautionaryprinciple #discoveryislands

What a beautiful day for a solar shower! This DIY construction provides a luxuriously hot shower using black plastic irrigation tubing. The spirals of tubing behind old windows absorb the sun’s energy and warm the water within. The south facing aspect and angled design maximize sun exposure. There is no pump required as the tubing fills continuously from our gravity-fed water line. A shower that makes you feel clean in more ways than one :) #sustainable #inspiration #diy #salmoncoastfieldstation

Sea lice levels have been high at multiple locations along the BC coast this spring. https://www.chemainusvalleycourier.ca//dfo-says-sea-lice-/ Researchers at Salmon Coast have been studying the impact of sea lice on wild salmon for twenty years - stay tuned for this season's sea lice report. #salmoncoastfieldstation #longtermdata #sealice #wildsalmon

The Salmon Coast garden is producing delicious things and feeding our hard working crew. This week, we collected beautiful berries, swiss chard, spinach, kale, radishes, peas, potatoes and there’s more on the way. We hope your garden is keeping you grounded and nourished as summer hits its stride. Thanks to @westcoastseeds for supporting our efforts to eat locally! #gardening #growyourown #eatlocal #sustainability #foodsecurity #salmoncoastfieldstation #broughtonarchipelago

Salmon Coast Pie Day was a success! Take a look at these beautiful pies! These creative creations included: Baklava Pie, sweet and savory by the Speier sisters (Pumpkin and Chicken Tikka Masala Pie), Gravid Caligus Pie (tastes like mushrooms, not sea lice), and NOT A PIE--Nutella Buttermilk Chocolate Ganache Cake--to celebrate 20 years of sea lice monitoring at Salmon Coast! #salmoncoastfieldstation #SalmonCoastPieDay #therealpieday

It's Salmon Coast Pie Day! Join us and post pics of your own delicious creation! #SalmonCoastPieDay #therealpieday #salmoncoastfieldstation

Salmon Coast Pie Day starts soon! Join us virtually Saturday, June 20 --post pics and descriptions of your pie to our fb event page. We are celebrating 20 years of sea lice monitoring with PIE!

With 20 years of monitoring juvenile salmon for sea lice under our belt, we always hope to find salmon as beautiful as this in our nets (photo credit @alexmorton4salmon). Unfortunately, they aren’t always so pretty. In 2019, sea louse numbers on juvenile wild salmon in the #broughtonarchipelago were at their second highest levels since 2005. Check out the #salmoncoastfieldstation Sea Lice Report to learn more! https://www.salmoncoast.org/salmon-coast-projects/sealice/ #longtermdata #broughtonarchipelago #oceanconservation #wildsalmon #fieldwork