Investigating the Impact of Environmental and Anthropogenic Stressors on Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) Spawning Dynamics in the Strait of Georgia

This study focuses on the Pacific herring in the Strait of Georgia, which has seen a significant reduction in its range since the 1980s, without a clear cause. This contraction is concerning due to the herring’s importance to species like the Chinook salmon, which rely on herring as a food source. The research aims to identify the factors driving the changes in herring spawning events. The approach includes comparing locations with reduced spawning activity to those with consistent spawning. The methodology involves deploying water temperature loggers, mapping subtidal vegetation, sampling for chemical contaminants (including freshwater inputs), and analyzing the spatial impact of human activities. Site selection will be based on herring spawn records and consultations with local community groups. By characterizing these drivers and understanding their impacts, we hope to inform habitat restoration and management actions that would better protect herring and their predators for generations to come.

Faculty Supervisor:

Amanda Bates

Student:

Partner:

Pacific Salmon Foundation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

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

University:

University of Victoria

Program: