PSF Marine Science Program

The Salish Sea was once an ecosystem with abundant wild Pacific salmon that supported fresh and saltwater ecosystems, thriving fisheries and Indigenous cultures. Beginning in the late 1970s, marine survival rates for Chinook, Coho, and steelhead, meaning the number of fish that survive migration from river to ocean and return as adults, mysteriously and sharply declined. Efforts to reduce harvest, restore habitat, and improve hatchery practices have not led to recovery. In partnership with US-based Long Live the Kings, the Pacific Salmon Foundation launched a five-year transboundary effort with more than 60 different entities to understand the interlocking ecosystem factors that were limiting salmon production. The initiatives within the Marine Science Program are based on the culmination of those findings and identification of urgent priority areas for advancing recovery.
Explore our current programs

Resilient Coasts for Salmon

Re-naturalizing shore lines to recover salmon and fend off global warming

Nearshore and Estuary Projects

Researching and restoring eelgrass and kelp for wild Pacific salmon, forage fish, and other nearshore species
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Bottlenecks to Survival Project

The Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF), together with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF), are investigating survival bottlenecks for salmon and steelhead throughout the Salish Sea and Southern BC regions
(Open External Project Site)
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Hatchery Effectiveness

Optimizing hatcheries and enhancement techniques for wild Pacific salmon sustainability
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Citizen Science Projects

Community Science for long-term Ecosystem Monitoring
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Strait of Georgia Data Centre

One-stop shop for freely accessible data, maps and information for the Strait of Georgia
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Seal-Salmon Interactions

Investigating how to reduce seal predation on wild and hatchery salmon
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Salish Sea Marine Survival Project

Why are salmon dying in the Salish Sea? Over 60 organizations are working internationally to solve the biggest mystery impacting salmon recovery and sustainable fisheries
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Salmon - Herring Interactions

Strait of Georgia herring and restoring the salmon food web
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High Seas Research

Demystifying impacts to salmon survival in the open ocean
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Invasive Species

Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that have become established and negatively impact the local ecosystem balance
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Education & Outreach

Making science accessible to everyone!
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About Pacific Salmon Foundation

PSF is committed to helping Pacific salmon recover
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