Salmon Coast Field Station

The project is informed by a series of residencies at the remote Salmon Coast Field Station (SCFS) in Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw territory (Broughton Archipelago), British Columbia.

These residencies are a rare opportunity for experiential learning and unprecedented contact with salmon research in a stunning and difficult-to-access part of Canada’s coast. During our first residency, SCFS along with the Marine Enhancement of Salmonoid Species Society (MESSS) allowed us to participate in "Steam Walking" - counting and identifying salmon as they return to spawn in remote (thriving or devastated) streams around the archipelago. For our second residency, we were trained in sea lice fieldwork and identification, and participated in "Sea Licing" - safely netting wild juvenile salmon from boats, and counting attached sea lice with hand lenses. (Sea Lice are damaging parasites that attach onto wild juvenile salmon that swim past salmon farms on their out-migration.)

The core of Salmon Coast's work is focused on conserving and protecting the ecological integrity of coastal British Columbia. For more information on the science happening at Salmon Coast, check out their projects.