| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Pacific Salmon Foundation undertook an assessment of the health and condition of the Skeena River estuary from the perspective of salmon. Specifically, we asked: • What are the key pressures on salmon habitat? • What is the status of salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary? • What are critical gaps in our understanding of the Skeena River estuary? With input from a regional technical advisory committee, we generated a snapshot of the current status of the estuary, established a baseline for monitoring changes in the condition of the estuary over time, and developed a framework for evaluating key pressures on salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary. This project revealed considerable gaps in information for the Skeena River estuary, highlighting the need for increased monitoring and assessment of trends in estuary indicators. We recommend that future monitoring efforts focus on four priority topics: • The distribution and abundance of juvenile salmon. • The growth and condition of juvenile salmon. • The extent of eelgrass. • The density and diversity of salmon food. Addressing these knowledge gaps should be an immediate priority for government agencies, First Nations, and all stakeholders with an interest in the Skeena River estuary. By building our collective knowledge of Skeena salmon and their habitats, local communities will be better equipped to identify conservation priorities for the region. |
