BC Conservation Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific report by the Aquatic Research and Restoration Center’s Program Manager, Jamieson Atkinson, and Sam James from the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
The report offers a place-based perspective on rebuilding the endangered Nanaimo River summer Chinook salmon. This population has seen fewer than 1,000 adults returning each year since 2014 and was listed as endangered by COSEWIC in 2018, triggering what’s known as a Risk Assessment Method for Salmon (RAMS). Thanks to collaborations with the Snuneymuxw First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Atkinson, a manager of the Bottlenecks to Survival Project, was invited to participate in the RAMS process, as well as a scientific review of the government-led recovery potential assessment. Through his involvement, Atkinson was able to contribute much needed local data and context to the rebuilding planning process.
“What becomes clear is the need for local ground-truthing of data and adaptive strategies that incorporate Indigenous knowledge in research agendas. This has largely been lacking; up until now, on too many peer-reviewed studies,” says Atkinson.
The Bottlenecks to Survival Project, funded by the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, is a large-scale research initiative in partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation that utilizes Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags to better understand salmon survival “bottlenecks”. The project is well positioned to offer relevant data to support the recovery of this endangered population, including survival estimates and migration timing, as well as interactions with hatchery salmon, predators, and fisheries.
“We have data on these endangered salmon and they should absolutely be used to guide rebuilding efforts. And these data are accessible – our Nanaimo summer Chinook data dashboard allows everyone in this conversation to explore the data and better understand what’s going on with this population,” says James.
Key findings from preliminary data show very low survival (<1%), highlight broad outmigration and return windows for Chinook salmon and provide preliminary evidence of substantial variability in Chinook survival across habitats and life stages.
Data from the Bottlenecks to Survival Project were used to update existing assessments of limiting factors and life cycle model inputs. Tools, such as the RAMS limiting factors spreadsheet and the CEMPRA model, support recovery planning.
It is hoped that this research can respond to evolving ecological conditions to support a resurgence of Nanaimo's summer Chinook salmon in the coastal waterways of Vancouver Island.
Citation:
Atkinson, J. B., and James, S. 2025. Scientific Briefing: Nanaimo summer Chinook Risk Assessment & Life Cycle Model Updates to Inform a Stock Rebuilding Plan. Can. Contract. Rep. Hydrogr. Ocean Sci. 63: vi + 26 p