Evaluating the effectiveness of Central Coast BC fishery closures

This research evaluates the effectiveness of commercial salmon fishery closures in British Columbia’s Central Coast, where salmon populations have rapidly declined in recent decades. In response, the Canadian government closed several commercial fisheries, including the Central Coast chum gillnet fishery. While intended to support recovery, closures carry major socio-economic consequences. The project assesses whether the 2021 closure helped rebuild target and bycatch populations using statistical analyses of empirical data (e.g., catch, abundance, and socio-economic indicators). In collaboration with the Central Coast First Nations (through CCIRA) and the Wild Salmon Center, the intern will also apply bioeconomic modelling to simulate future management scenarios. This work supports community-informed, science-based recovery planning and equitable access to fisheries. The results will inform collaborative governance between First Nations and the federal government, modelling future scenarios where conservation goals are met while addressing the needs of local harvesters and communities.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kyle Wilson;Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor

Student:

Partner:

Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance;Wild Salmon Center

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education; Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: