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  • Pacific Salmon Foundation
  • Pacific Streamkeepers Federation
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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Be sure to download the registration package.

Early Morning Sessions 9:00 - 10:15

• Aquatic Invertebrate Study (outdoor)
  Invertebrates play an important role in the aquatic food chain and are indicators of water quality. You will identify and count stream bugs to learn how much natural food is available in-stream for your fry after release. (Module 4 of the Streamkeepers Handbook)
• Egg to Fry (repeats)
  New strategies and techniques for optimum survival. Our egg collection, fertilization, disinfection, incubation and rearing, affect salmon throughout their life cycle. Understand what is happening inside the egg as we handle them from first division of their cells to ponding.
• Fry to Release (repeats)
  Participants will learn about recommended fish culture strategies from fry to release and the importance of mimicking natural processes in the hatchery. Strategies and techniques for optimum survival.
• First Nations Fisheries Management
  The different projects that First Nations have worked on contribute to fisheries management locally and internationally. e.g. Sentinel Stocks Program, a part of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, which focuses on improved chinook escapement information.
• Riparian Restoration
  The use of natural processes for the ecological restoration of riparian areas. This session will incorporate portions of DFO Streamkeepers Module 7.
• Salish Sea Marine Survival Program
  The Salish Sea Marine Survival Program is an international program developed by the Pacific Salmon Foundation. This project will simultaneously study all biological and environmental factors affecting salmon in the Salish Sea and test hypotheses of how this marine ecosystems functions.
• Watershed Roundtable
  Learn the value, risks and rewards of engaging in watershed planning. What are the payoffs and pitfalls facing grassroots stewardship groups if you just want to get some hands-on work done to “help salmon”? Real world examples and lots of time for discussion.

Late Morning Sessions 10:45 - 12:00

• Adult Brood Stock
  A general overview of the SEP Hatchery Production Planning process. Adult broodstock capture methods, handling, transport and holding.
• Digital Camera How-To
  Operate your digital camera to get good quality photographs to illustrate and record your groups work. The emphasis will be “hands-on” practice, based on participants’ needs. Tips of the trade include exposure in difficult conditions, getting the colour right, close-up shots
• Early Marine Survivals
  An overview of research that is occuring on the role of the ocean, feeding, growth and distribution studies, and climate conditions which contribute to the total marine survival of a number of species and to stock and recruitement relations.
• Fish Dissection
  Explore the wonders of salmon anatomy through a reallife demonstration and learn how to give an engaging presentation in a classroom or at a public event.
• Fisheries Protection Program
  Learn about DFO's approach to fisheries protection which ensures the valuable commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries thrive, while encouraging responsible development.
• Non-Goverment Organizations
  Learn the dos and donts of non profit organizations, should we become a society or charitable organization? Whats the difference anyways?
• Stock Assessment
  How to gather information on your streams’ stocks using juvenile fish trapping and ID and spawner surveys. Learn how this combined knowledge can be utilized by DFO and other agencies. (Streamkeepers Module 11 & 12 )
• Stream Restoration
  Explore DFO’s framework to help your planning process. How to assess the completed project and plan ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Early Afternoon Sessions 1:00 - 2:15

• DNA Tagging: The New Frontier
  Discussion of parental-based tagging as an alternative to coded-wire tagging. Parent’s DNA provides information on all returning offspring without the need to tag or mark this generation when they were fry.
• Engaging Youth and the Young at Heart
  Using social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, and blogs to inform and attract new volunteers.
• Egg to Fry (repeat)
  New strategies and techniques for optimum survival. Our egg collection, fertilization, disinfection, incubation and rearing, affect salmon throughout their life cycle. Understand what is happening inside the egg as we handle them from first division of their cells to ponding.
• Estuary Restoration
  Learn how to identify habitat problems in vital salmonid habitat such as estuary salt marshes and eel grass meadows. Explore some of the challenges and techniques for restoring these habitats.
• Fry to Release (repeat)
  Participants will learn about recommended fish culture strategies from fry to release and the importance of mimicking natural processes in the hatchery environment. Srategies/techniques for optimum survival.
• Monitoring with a Purpose
  A showcase of how PSkF incorporated Streamkeepers modules 1, 2, 3, and 4 as part of the integrated storm water management planning process with the City and District of North Vancouver. Community monitoring of water quality/quantity on Shelly Creek in Parksville in conjunction with Nanaimo RD and Min. of Environment has resulted in identification of problems and solutions.
• Project Planning
  Planning a stream restoration project? When to get your section 9, how to engage First Nations , when to get Fisheries and Oceans on board and your municipality.
• Risk Management Framework
  SEP provides many benefits but care must be taken to avoid potential risks to the resource. An overview of the Framework resources, and some of the tools that can be put to use in the field to help hatcheries, streamkeepers and volunteers get the most out of their efforts.

Late Afternoon Sessions 2:45 - 4:00

• Advance Stream Habitat Survey (outdoor)
  Learn how to choose a reference sight, conduct cross sectional surveys, measure discharge, and assess habitat quality. (Module 2 of Streamkeepers Handbook)
• Beach Seine (outdoor)
  Complete a beach seine in the Somass Estuary and gather ocean life to explore habitat needs of our juvenile salmon as they transition to the ocean. A quick look at some estuary restoration including marsh benches and flood channel access.
• Didymo/Aquatic Invasives
  Latest research on Didymo plus a presentation on marine invasives; they arrive in Canadian waters silently, unseen by most eyes, and once here can do much of their damage out of sight.
• First Nations Education Programs that Work
  Education resources and opportunities Uu-a-thluk coordinates through science camps, academic resource development and hands-on learning opportunities, Uu-a-thluk works with a wide range of age groups to implement Nuu-chah-nulth aquatic resource tools that are educational and relevant to Nuu-chah-nulth.
• Fish Health 101
  We all want healthy fish. Understanding what makes your fish tick will help you recognize what can make them sick. The anatomy and physiology of fish dictates their responses to pathogens and environmental changes. Most fish health issues are the result of a complex interaction between the fish, a pathogen and the environment that they share.
• Fundraising: Widening the Net
  New avenues for funding, e.g. silent auctions, municipalities, business, industry and using heightened awareness in community that may be generated through media stories.
• Salmon: The Big Picture
  Learn how stock strengths, climate change, hatchery/ wild interactions impact on survival rates. The science behind release strategies will be updated.
• Wetlands Restoration
  Incorporating salmon into duck habitat restoration initiatives.