Skeena Watershed Historical Reconstruction

Location:

Skeena Watershed, Canada

Project type:

Historical Abundance Study

Status:

Active

Start Date:

Fall 2011

Completion Date:

TBD

Description:

Wild Fish Conservancy is taking a close look at the historical abundance of salmon and steelhead species of the Skeena watershed. This project is in the early stages. This study will closely resemble the Historical Abundance of Puget Sound Steelhead, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Estimated from Catch Record Data study from early 2011. Historical adundance data is vital to recovery planning.  Without such an historical perspective, it is impossible to know whether or not recovery targets may underestimate the potential abundance and diversity that is required.

Goals & Objectives:

1. Provide an evidence-based estimate of salmon and steelhead  run size on the Skeena shortly before the turn of the 20th century.
2. Illustrate how quantitative and narrative historical fisheries and socio-economic information can be integrated and employed to obtain credible quantitative estimates of population sizes and conditions that properly acknowledge the uncertainties that are inevitable in such an endeavor.
3. Scale historical estimates to current and historic estimates of habitat quantity so that estimates may provide an informative perspective on the productive potential of Skeena salmon and steelhead under current conditions.

Managing Agency/Organization:

Wild Fish Conservancy

Project Contact:

Nick Gayeski

Attachments:

• Abundance of Skeena River Chum Salmon during the Early Rise of Commercial Fishing
• Historical Abundance of Puget Sound Steelhead, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Estimated from Catch Record Data study

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