Floating Ideas Lecture Series

Beyond The Murky Veil: Uncovering Salmon Habitat Use In The Fraser River Estuary

Doors Open 6:30pm, Lecture 7:00pm

Regular admission applies, free for members and annual pass holders

The Fraser River estuary is the largest delta in the Salish Sea. Its outflows influence plankton blooms and nutrient cycling, which form the foundation of the marine food web in the Sea. Estuarine, marine, and freshwater fish all congregate in and around the Fraser estuary. This area is also home to Canada’s most active port, an international airport, and the majority of British Columbia’s population. The Fraser River is also one of Canada’s most important salmon-producing rivers. Pacific salmon migrate from fresh to marine waters and back and use the estuary as a transition zone on this journey. What efforts can we take to support wild salmon in urban environments, and how can we work to identify key areas within the estuary that are vital for salmon success? This talk will focus on a particular population of salmon: Harrison River Chinook, and the challenges they overcome while navigating this altered environment. 

Lia Chalifour is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, co-supervised by Dr. Julia Baum and Dr. Tara Martin. Lia's research is on the ecology and conservation of fish communities in BC, particularly Fraser River salmon populations. Her focus is on identifying conservation priorities for Chinook salmon, who use some of the estuarine habitat on their way out to the Salish Sea, and whose populations have been declining for decades. Prior to graduate studies, Lia enjoyed working in conservation and environmental education for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Galiano Conservancy Association, and World Fisheries Trust. Her love of coastal hiking and SCUBA diving help to fuel her motivation towards conservation science.