Salmon 101 with Allison Dennert and Dave Scott

In this episode, host Auston Chhor is joined by fellow Raincoast team members Dr. Allison Dennert, Quantitative Salmon Ecologist, and Dave Scott, Research and Restoration Coordinator for the Lower Fraser Salmon Program, who provide some fundamental background information on all things salmon. 

Discussing their focus areas, Allison and Dave talk about different species, life cycles, and the challenges salmon face. Diving deeper, Allison explains the connection between fish and land, pulling from her doctoral research on the connections between salmon and coastal plant communities. Dave takes us into the world of hard hats and habitat restoration, collaborating with municipalities on urban salmon, and working in the Fraser River estuary, which many call the “Grand Central Station” of juveniles.

Dave Scott is a salmon biologist with a focus on understanding juvenile salmon life histories to facilitate better restoration planning. Dave is currently a PhD student in the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory at the University of British Columbia where he studies under highly renowned salmon researcher Dr. Scott Hinch. Dave’s PhD research focuses on understanding juvenile Chinook estuary reliance through field research capturing out migrating juvenile salmon in the Fraser River estuary along with laboratory studies conducted at UBC. Dave also leads Raincoast’s Fraser Estuary Connectivity Project which has created three large breaches in the Steveston Jetty, reconnecting the river to its delta after over 100 years. As part of his research Dave also leads our effectiveness monitoring which has demonstrated the movement of juvenile salmon through the newly created breaches along with measuring changes in the distribution of freshwater and sediments and changes in vegetation.

Dr. Allison Dennert conducts scientific research and applied conservation initiatives to advance ecologically sustainable salmon management in BC and support the recovery of at-risk populations. She completed her Doctorate in Biology at Simon Fraser University in the Earth2Ocean Research Group. Her research examines the role of nutrients from spawning Pacific salmon in terrestrial ecosystems, and she is passionate about coastal wildflowers and their pollinators. As a part of her doctoral work she spent several years living and working in Haíɫzaqv Territory in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, boating to salmon watersheds. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia in Biology, with a specialization in Marine Biology. 

Additional resources: 

• Eco labelling programs for eating salmon responsibly 
  • OceanWise
  • Marine Stewardship Counsel
  • Where can you source BC fish 
    • Authentic indigenous Seafood
• Alison’s paper, the relationship between salmon and plants
  • https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221008
• Stillcreek Streamkeepers
• The great salmon sendoff
• Coho Festival

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org