Vancouver, BC – In recent years, climate change, habitat loss and fishing pressures have negatively affected Pacific salmon at every stage of their lifecycle. In an effort to fill gaps in our understanding of salmon distribution, productivity, and survival in coastal and high seas environments – under changing global climate conditions – the research ship CCGS Sir John Franklin is setting off on a five-week expedition in the North Pacific Ocean to undertake the first ever pan-Pacific survey of five species of pacific salmon.

This mission is part of the 2022 International Year of the Salmon, an outreach and research initiative organized by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. Scientists and crews from the CCGS Sir John Franklin will be joined by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Bell M. Shimada, Russian ship R/V TINRO and Canadian commercial fishing vessel, the F/V Raw Spirit, in an unprecedented cooperative survey of the North Pacific.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is contributing funds toward this research through the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). Funded by both the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia , BCSRIF supports protection and restoration activities for salmon, as well as projects that will ensure the fish and seafood sector in BC is positioned for long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

Throughout 2022 and beyond, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to support salmon conservation on the Pacific coast. In 2021, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada launched the $647 million Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, the largest, most transformative investment Canada has made in salmon which aims to stem the devastating historic declines in key Pacific salmon stocks and rebuild these species to sustainable levels.

“The research conducted on this international expedition will strengthen our understanding of Pacific salmon and support the generational investments Canada is making under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative to restore Pacific salmon populations. I wish the scientists and crew of the expedition great success and look forward to seeing the results of their work.” The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here
Please enter your comment!