What is the Marine Risk Assessment?
The marine risk assessment process informs the WCVI Chinook Rebuilding Plan by identifying the principal factors affecting survival and productivity of WCVI Chinook Salmon in the marine stages of their life cycle. the Marine Risk Assessment follows the Freshwater Risk Assessment, which was conducted from September-December 2021.
The information from the Marine and Freshwater Risk assessments will be compiled into a scientific backgrounder that will inform strategic rebuilding sessions that are planned with Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations and DFO later this year.
The Marine Risk Assessment will take the shape of workshops with a 2-day format.
Day 1: knowledge presentations and exchange.
Day 2: evaluation and rating risks
An exception to this is the first workshop which, while 2 days, will be informative and not involve risk evaluation.
Risks will be evaluated at appropriate spatial and temporal scales for various limiting factors using a standardized methodology developed from the Risk Assessment Methodology for Salmon used in the Freshwater Risk Assessment process and the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project.
The WCVI Chinook marine risk assessment is intended to be a holistic process, creating space for sharing of different types of knowledge, identifying biological bottlenecks, and creating strategies for recovery and rebuilding.
There are seven workshops planned for the Marine Risk Assessment Process:
Setting the Scene – WCVI Chinook and Their Physical Environment
Physical and Biological Changes to Marine Ecosystems Affecting WCVI Chinook
Early Marine Survival and Feeding
Predation
Parasites, Pathogens, Algae, and Contaminants
Hatcheries
Harvest
If you are reading this and are interested in attending but have not received an event invite, please contact tim@westcoastaquatic.ca for more information.