Coupled human-salmon-bear systems of coastal British Columbia

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation pursues conservation initiatives in coastal British Columbia through science, outreach, and sustainable economies, such as ecotourism or community-driven fisheries management informed by local knowledge and ecology. The success of wildlife viewing ecotourism greatly depends on knowing areas and time periods predictably used by target species. The goal of the proposed research is to inform initiatives of Raincoast and its ecotourism partners (e.g. Spirit Bear Lodge, Wuikinuxv First Nation, Nimmo Bay Resort) by research on commercially-valuable wildlife. We will monitor places and times where grizzly bears eat salmon; identifying critical habitat. This information will let ecotourism operators focus their efforts and expenses on predictably high bear-use locations, which in turn supports conservation-based economies. This information can also inform the Wuikinuxv Nation of how their local fisheries, and the proposed re-opening of commercial fisheries, may affect bears access to salmon and in turn, potential ecotourism opportunities.TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Chris Darimont

Student:

Megan Adams

Partner:

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Discipline:

Geography / Geology / Earth science

Sector:

Natural resources

University:

Program: