Status of our Salmon: Where are we Headed Public Talk

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Thursday, April 4th, 2019
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Status of Our Salmon Public Meeting April 4

Sooke Forum, a group of volunteer Sooke citizens, is organizing an informational public talk to help raise our understanding of what is going on with our wild salmon populations and what the future holds for our various fisheries. This is a timely talk given the approaching salmon fishing season and pending closure announcements from DFO.

As a “salmon community” we know the threats our salmon face – climate change, over-harvesting, oceanic effects, habitat alteration. Will it be extinction or can we be better stewards of this invaluable resource and ensure a sustainable future for wild salmon? How do we ensure enough salmon for the restoration of the Southern Resident Killer Whales?

Sooke Forum has enlisted one of Canada’s top salmon biologists, Dr. Brian Riddell, to bring us the latest knowledge and his wisdom to lead the discussion and answer our questions.

Dr. Riddell is an internationally recognized fishery scientist with an extensive background in salmon research, fisheries management and policy development. He is currently President & CEO of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wild Pacific salmon and their habitat.

Prior to joining the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Dr. Riddell worked for 30 years in DFO’s Science Branch where he co-authored Canada’s policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon and contributed scientific input to the Pacific Salmon Treaty with the USA. He has served on Canada’s Expert Panel on Ocean Climate Change & Marine Biodiversity. He sits as a Commissioner on the Pacific Salmon Commission and was recently a member of the Province of BC’s Advisory Council on Finfish Aquaculture.

Dr. Riddell’s talk will start by summarizing the status or health of Pacific salmon across BC today and then focus on the threats that salmon face and our management challenges. A question and answer period involving Dr. Riddell and other local spokespersons will follow the presentation.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear from someone with such a deep and broad knowledge of our wild salmon.