Terms of Reference

Review and Update of Southern British Columbia Chinook Conservation Unit Assignments

Science Special Response Process (SSRP) – Pacific Region

February 6, 2013
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Dr. Gayle Brown

Context

Populations of Southern British Columbia Chinook salmon (those entering the ocean south of Cape Caution) have experienced repeated years of low returns and there is a high degree of uncertainty about their longer term abundance and productivity.  DFO is currently undertaking a number of initiatives in order to assess the current status of these stocks and to guide the implementation of appropriate actions for their conservation into the future.  These actions are within the context of both the Wild Salmon Policy (WSP) and in light of a pending Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessment of status (currently scheduled for Autumn 2014).

In order to accurately assess the status of salmon stocks under the WSP, methodology has been developed to systematically aggregate individual salmon populations into Conservation Units (CUs) (Holtby and Ciruna, 2007), hereafter called the “original CU assignments”.  At the time, participants recognized that the CUs identified would need to be regularly modified as new information, analyses and interpretation became available (DFO, 2009).  Since the original CU assignments were made, a number of inconsistencies and omissions have been noted that relate to Southern BC Chinook populations, thus prompting a general review of the CU assignments.  Subsequently, there is also a need to obtain departmental approval of the updates and ensure the new information is reflected in all DFO sources that contain these assignments such as databases and spatial mapping utilities.

Objectives

This review will evaluate if: 

• Proposed changes to Conservation Unit (CU) structure and assignments of Southern BC Chinook populations accurately reflect the best current available knowledge of these Chinook stocks.
• A formal process or approach can be adopted from this exercise to ensure the revised CUs are incorporated fully into existing DFO data sources (nuSEDS, EPAD, MRP, PADS) as well as for accurate spatial mapping of the new CU information (e.g., Mapster).

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science – Pacific; OHEB; FAM)
• Non-DFO Southern BC Chinook Technical Working Group members (Aboriginal communities/organizations; commercial and recreational fisheries representatives)
• Other invited experts (Participants from the original peer review process)

References

DFO. 2009. Framework for characterizing Conservation Units of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) for implementing the Wild Salmon Policy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/052.

Holtby, L.B. and Ciruna, K.A., 2007. Conservation units for Pacific salmon under the Wild Salmon Policy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2007/070.