Wild Salmon Policy 2018 to 2022 Implementation Plan:
5 year review

On this page

• Executive summary
• Introduction
• WSP Implementation Plan results
• WSP Implementation Plan achievements
• Are we closer to the WSP’s goals and objectives?
• Other Regional initiatives supporting salmon rebuilding
• Conclusion
• Annex A: Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan resources and acronyms
• Annex B: WSP Implementation Plan Activity status

Executive summary

The Wild Salmon Policy (WSP) was released in 2005 and marked a major turning point in the management of Pacific salmon by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Today, the WSP continues to serve as DFO’s key policy guidance for the conservation and restoration of wild Pacific salmon. The goal of the WSP is to “restore and maintain healthy and diverse salmon populations and their habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Canada in perpetuity.” This goal remains as important as ever, given continued declines and the myriad of challenges facing Pacific salmon populations.

The Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan: 2018-2022 (the Plan) was released in 2018 to provide additional guidance for DFO and partners to focus efforts and track progress against the goal, objectives, and activities outlined in the policy. The Plan outlined a series of activities focused on standardizing assessment methods, and supporting partnerships and communities in collectively working to maintain and rebuild Pacific salmon populations and their habitats. The Department committed to undertaking 48 activities between 2018 and 2022, with 6 further activities added to the Plan in 2021 related to the renewed Fisheries Act. The Plan also emphasized DFO’s commitment to reviewing performance, through annual reporting and a 5-year review of implementation. This review summarizes progress on all 54 activities, including whether the activities were implemented as planned, highlights key results, and reflects on whether the Plan brought us closer to achieving the WSP’s goal and objectives. The review also includes an annex with annual reporting for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Results from the 5-year review are organized under the 3 key themes identified in the Plan, as well as the WSP’s 6 Strategies:

Theme 1: Assessment

Strategy 1: Standardized monitoring of wild salmon status
Strategy 2: Assessment of habitat status
Strategy 3: Inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring

Theme 2: Maintaining and rebuilding stocks

Strategy 4: Integrated strategic planning
Strategy 5: Annual program delivery

Theme 3: Accountability

Strategy 6: Performance review

Of the 54 activities, 28 had target completion dates on or before March 31, 2022. 20 of these were completed on time, while work on the remaining 8 activities is ongoing. 26 activities under the Plan were identified as ongoing, with almost all of those activities will continue past 2022.

While completion of some activities has been delayed, work has advanced under all of the themes and Strategies. Under the Assessment theme, significant progress was made under WSP Strategy 1, specifically on standardizing data collection, monitoring, and assessment methodologies, including completing the current list of wild salmon Conservation Units (CU), and formalizing a framework for reviewing and approving any revisions to CU descriptions. DFO will continue to build upon this work to identify groups of CUs to prioritize for biological stock assessment. While several activities were completed under WSP Strategies 2 and 3, further work is required to characterize key habitats and status indicators for CUs, which can then inform risk assessments. The Risk Assessment Methodology for salmon (RAMS) is nearing publication, which will allow for identification of management interventions to conserve, restore, or enhance salmon CUs.

Under the Maintaining and Rebuilding Stocks theme, several activities were advanced related to WSP Strategy 4, including incorporating CU status considerations, enhancement production planning, and habitat and ecosystem information into Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs), and developing a methodology to establish Limit Reference Points for salmon stocks. Moving forward, a strategic approach will be required to expand information in the IFMPs and scope the material that should be included to support management processes. DFO also investigated new research tools to diagnose and study disease and other conditions affecting wild salmon, and completed assessments to support science advice regarding risks to wild salmon from pathogens originating from salmon aquaculture operations. Through WSP Strategy 5, progress was made in terms of ensuring WSP considerations are incorporated into planning and decision making for salmon enhancement.

Finally, under the Accountability theme, DFO fulfilled annual reporting requirements (WSP Strategy 6). Previous Annual Reports can be found here.

Despite significant progress under the Plan, many salmon populations continue to decline, with climate change and other environmental pressures being key factors. Moving forward, DFO will continue to improve our understanding the role of climate change in salmon declines and inform the development of climate change-resilient rebuilding approaches. As noted in the 2019 State of the Salmon Report “[currently], salmon recovery, habitat restoration and fisheries management actions operate under the assumption that future salmon production will function similarly to how it has in the past. However, under rapidly changing climate conditions this assumption is no longer valid. Changing climate means that conditions are increasingly falling outside the bounds of historical observations. This can alter the effectiveness of activities currently relied upon to manage salmon and their ecosystems, and ultimately puts salmon populations at risk” (Grant et al. 2019).

Given the urgent situation facing Pacific salmon, DFO launched the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), a transformational investment of over $740 million to conserve and restore Pacific salmon stocks. The PSSI will guide a strategic and coordinated long term response to Pacific salmon declines. Rooted in collaborative action, the PSSI aims to stabilize and restore Pacific salmon and salmon habitat for the people, communities and ecosystems that depend upon their sustainability. Actions under the PSSI align with and support the WSP goal and objectives, to a common outcome of wild Pacific salmon populations being rebuilt and maintained for the long-term. The key links between the WSP and PSSI are outlined in this review.

Introduction

Wild Pacific salmon are an iconic part of the life and culture of Canada’s West Coast. They hold tremendous value for natural ecosystems, cultural and spiritual practices, recreational enjoyment, and jobs along the coast and inland waters of the Pacific Region. Pacific salmon are a keystone species in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Many species of fauna and flora—from killer whales to black bears to Douglas Fir trees—depend on migrating Pacific salmon for their survival and life processes. Salmon are also inextricably linked to Indigenous communities in British Columbia (BC) and Yukon, not only as a traditional food source, but also as a vital component of spiritual, cultural, social, and economic well-being.

Conservation of wild Pacific salmon stocks is a key priority for DFO. Many Pacific salmon populations are suffering losses at every life stage due to a combination of factors including climate change and warming waters; habitat degradation, changes in land and water use, and pollutants; acute one-time events (toxic spills and landslides); and illegal, unreported, and unregulated international fishing pressures. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed 62 different Pacific salmon Designatable Units (DUs) since 2016 and designated 43 of them as at risk. Those 43 DUs are under consideration for listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

The WSP was released in 2005, following several years of extensive consultation and engagement with First Nations, stakeholders, other levels of government, and the public. The policy marked a major turning point in the management of Pacific salmon by articulating a conservation ethic to preserve both genetic diversity and abundance. The goal of the WSP is to: “…restore and maintain healthy and diverse salmon populations and their habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Canada in perpetuity.” To meet this goal, the WSP set out 3 objectives and identified 6 Strategies, including Strategy 6 which committed DFO to ongoing review of the implementation and success of the Policy. The Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan: 2018-2022 was released in October 2018 and outlined 48 specific activities DFO would undertake over a 5-year period to advance the WSP goal and objectives. It also grouped the Strategies into 3 interrelated themes: Assessment; Maintaining and Rebuilding Stocks; and Accountability. In 2021, DFO published an Addendum to the Plan, which introduced 6 additional activities derived from new programming under the renewed Fisheries Act.

The 2018-2022 period brought several significant and unforeseen challenges. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed key field work and consultation activities. Extreme weather and related events, including extreme heat, fires, and floods, affected both communities and salmon habitats. These events underscore that future efforts to conserve and rebuild salmon stocks will need to be flexible and responsive in the face of changing environmental conditions.

The Department’s approach to salmon conservation is also informed by the recent modernization of the Fisheries Act. The renewed Act introduced new tools which will support continued WSP implementation: (1) the introduction of Fish Stocks Provisions for prescribed major fish stocks; and (2) the transformation of the Fisheries Protection Program into the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) with an enhanced mandate and resourcing.

The principles of the Wild Salmon Policy—focusing on conservation, working with First Nations, making decisions that ensure sustainable use, and making decisions in an open and transparent process—continue to guide the Department’s work in this area. Collaboration among all levels of government, First Nations, communities, industries, and non-governmental organizations is required to rebuild healthy Pacific salmon populations. Habitat management, integrated resource management, land protection, and local planning and zoning all require active participation and collaboration among multiple jurisdictions. Given this complex landscape, the Department works with different partners depending on the implicated authorities and the spatial scale of the activity being undertaken. Importantly, DFO’s work on Pacific salmon and habitat is also guided by the Government of Canada’s commitment to a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, and by other key policies including the Precautionary Approach to Fishery Decision-Making. While the Plan has been focused on activities that the Department is taking or leading, DFO recognizes that conserving and rebuilding salmon cannot and should not be done by government alone. Partners across BC and Yukon are actively contributing toward the Wild Salmon Policy goal of maintaining and restoring wild salmon populations.

While the implementation period for this particular plan has ended, the Government of Canada continues to invest heavily in the conservation and long-term rebuilding of Pacific salmon. Budget 2021: A recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience provided a transformational investment of over $740 million starting in 2021-22 for DFO to stabilize and conserve wild Pacific salmon populations. The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, launched on June 8, 2021, aims to stem the historic decline of many Pacific salmon populations and to conserve and rebuild stocks where possible by implementing a series of immediate and long-term solutions that focus on habitat, hatchery, and harvest measures, along with greater integration and collaboration. A PSSI strategic framework has been developed to guide the implementation of new and existing actions, and to advance federal efforts towards the new proposed federal Pacific salmon vision: “working together to conserve and restore Pacific salmon stocks and their ecosystems, for those who depend on them.” The PSSI represents Canada’s largest ever investment in salmon and a transformational shift in how Pacific salmon are managed on Canada’s west coast. Aligned with the broad goals and objectives of the WSP, DFO will be advancing PSSI implementation in collaboration with First Nations, as well as BC and Yukon governments, harvesters, environmental groups, academia, and the public.

WSP Implementation Plan results

Over the course of the implementation plan period (2018-2022), DFO has advanced monitoring of wild salmon stocks; habitat and ecosystem assessment, and monitoring; integrated strategic planning; and program delivery, working collaboratively with First Nations, the Province of British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, communities, industries, and non-governmental organizations. This section reviews the implementation results for all 54 activities identified in the Plan.

Overall, for the 28 activities with a target completion date, 20 were completed within the implementation period (as planned). For those 8 that were not completed, key reasons included the impact of the COVID pandemic on the ability to conduct field work and the need to coordinate and compile complex information sources. Several of the incomplete activities are on track to be completed in 2023.

• Activities with a target completion date: 28
• Completed within target timeline: 20
• Not completed within target timeline: 8

26 additional activities are ongoing. Only 1 activity—implementation of the regional Strategic Framework for Fisheries Monitoring and Catch Reporting in the Pacific Fisheries (2012)—is not continuing due to revised scope of the work. In many cases, work on these ongoing activities has evolved based on lessons learned through the implementation period. DFO remains committed to these activities based on the goal of the WSP to restore and maintain healthy and diverse salmon populations and their habitats.

• Ongoing activities: 26
• Continuing as core work: 25
• Not proceeding: 1

Please see Annex B for detailed information on individual activity statuses and outcomes.

WSP Implementation Plan achievements

This section reviews the status of all 54 activities identified in the Plan and addendum, including key achievements and milestones throughout the implementation period. Activities are organized by theme and Strategy under the WSP.

Theme 1: Assessment

The activities under this theme relate to the assessment and monitoring of Pacific salmon, their habitats, and ecosystems. Assessment work is considered the foundation of successful management and is a critical first step in integrated planning.

Strategy 1: Standardized monitoring of wild salmon status

Priorities to 2022:

• Identify benchmarks for CUs in 3 status zones – green, amber, red
• Determine the current status zone for the CUs
• Continue to monitor and assess status of CUs

The WSP focuses on the CU as the scale of diversity to be maintained. Diversity among CUs is important, in part because it allows for diversity in responses to threats and environmental drivers such as climate change, contributing to the sustainability of the species and the ecosystem services they provide. Under Strategy 1, DFO made significant progress on standardizing methodologies for CU data collection, monitoring and assessments, including maintaining the authoritative database for all 462 currently identified CUs. The CU Description database is available on the Open Government Data Portal, and will continue to be updated when revisions to the CU list or descriptions are made. A framework for reviewing and approving revisions was completed, peer-reviewed, and is available on the Canadian Scientific Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website. Additionally, a Salmon Data Reporting Strategy and Workplan was developed that will help to standardize data collection methods and tracking of resource allocations, accountabilities, and deliverables for monitoring programs.

DFO will continue to assess CUs and develop benchmarks, though data limitations have created challenges in this work. In order to address these challenges, new analytical methods were used and different types of data were evaluated (e.g., habitat capacity). For example, DFO scientists developed and evaluated a method for estimating benchmarks based on the percentile of observed spawner abundances (Holt et al. 2018), which may be useful for data-limited CUs. Furthermore, to understand the reliability of status assessments completed within the WSP, a study was done to look at how assumptions in data analysis bias assessment outcomes. Results from that study have lent “confidence to biological status assessments based on spawner abundances and spawner-recruitment analyses, even in the face of incomplete data” (Peacock et al. 2020).

Several Strategy 1 activities focused on continuing to collate and refine data, in order to help inform prioritization of CUs and Salmon Management Units (SMUs) – groups of CUs – for assessment and monitoring. For example, work is undertaken annually to enter data on spawner abundances at the CU level into the New Salmon Escapement Database (NuSEds); spawner abundance is an important consideration in prioritizing CUs and SMUs for assessment and monitoring. Additionally, substantial research has been undertaken on the abundance, health, and condition of Fraser sockeye during their migration in the marine environment from the mouth of the Fraser River through Johnstone Strait. A final, peer-reviewed, research paper is expected in the 2023 calendar year and will provide science support for management decisions for Fraser sockeye CUs.

Prioritization of CUs and SMUs remains an important part of WSP implementation. 69 SMUs were identified for implementation of the Fish Stocks Provisions of the revised Fisheries Act to enable a coordinated approach for program delivery and to reduce duplication and manage workload. The 69 SMUs will be used to group CUs for planning purposes, including the prioritization of CUs for biological status assessments. There is also now a better understanding of the work required to complete biological status assessments.

Strategy 2: Assessment of habitat status

Priorities to 2022 (for both Strategies 2 and 3):

• Identify a set of core environmental indicators associated with ecosystems
• Complete documentation on the Risk Assessment Method for Salmon (RAMS)
• Deliver the State of the Salmon Program to track and understand salmon trends
• Work with the Pacific Salmon Foundation on the Pacific Salmon Explorer

Under Strategy 2, work continues with the Pacific Salmon Foundation to document data on salmon habitat characteristics, and use this data to inform freshwater elements of risk assessments for wild Pacific salmon. Risk assessments for West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) freshwater habitats are complete, and are being used to identify potential actions and address key threats and limiting factors as part of the development of the WCVI chinook rebuilding plan.

DFO will also continue to publish annual State of the Pacific Ocean reports. These reports include information on environmental conditions in the ocean, as well as a core set of environmental indicators that can be used to inform the upcoming year’s salmon returns. Additionally, the 2019 State of the Salmon Report summarized environmental conditions for Pacific salmon in the past decade, and emphasized climate change as a key factor in deteriorating salmon trends. Climate change and adaptation to climate change is emerging in all State of the Salmon program work as a key factor now and going forward for salmon, pointing to the need for continued urgency in addressing this threat.

Finally, DFO has undertaken efforts to incorporate WSP objectives and considerations into Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) planning and decision-making that may affect wild Pacific salmon. Particular areas of focus have included identifying, gathering, and analyzing fish and fish habitat data; developing tools to map and report on the state of fish and fish habitat; developing a cumulative effects assessment framework within the context of regulatory reviews; providing technical advice and expertise to support habitat and watershed-based planning processes; and creating policies and frameworks to support the development of effective restoration and offsetting projects as well as the establishment of Ecologically Significant Areas (ESAs). Regulatory activities to protect and conserve fish and fish habitat are also ongoing including review of development activities with the potential to affect fish and fish habitat, follow-up on occurrences, and compliance monitoring activities to ensure works, undertakings or activities are carried out in accordance with the Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, Impact Assessment Act, and Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations. This work is considered ongoing for the foreseeable future.

Strategy 3: Inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring

Under Strategy 3, several activities centered on completing development of the Risk Assessment Methodology for Salmon (RAMS), which uses salmon life history and environmental information to identify management interventions to conserve, restore or enhance salmon CUs within a broader ecosystem. The methodology itself is nearing completion and publication, while RAMS workshop reports for 18 watersheds on the WCVI are published and available on the West Coast Aquatic Roundtables web site. The information from these workshops supported the development of a summary rebuilding plan for Cowichan chinook.

Another set of activities under Strategy 3 focused on building on the State of the Salmon Program work identified under Strategy 2. The program’s ongoing work to integrate and track salmon and environmental conditions in freshwater and marine environments is particularly important to understand large changes occurring in salmon populations and their ecosystems. The Pacific Salmon Status Scanner (the Scanner) was also created by the State of the Salmon Program and functions as an interactive data visualization tool to annually assess CU statuses. This tool will help with tracking and observing salmon patterns as they rapidly respond to climate change, and other stressors. Information from the Scanner will feed into salmon climate change vulnerability assessments, which are critical to understanding which salmon populations are most and least likely to retain some level of production going forward.

In 2021, the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project published a full synthesis report that summarizes work to “identify the primary factors affecting the survival of juvenile chinook, coho, and steelhead in the Salish Sea marine environment” (Pearsall et al. 2021). For this project, DFO led the basin wide sampling and research projects for examining the distribution and condition of juvenile salmon in the Strait of Georgia, contributed information on the abundance and spatial distribution of salmon juveniles within the Salish Sea, and participated in the efforts to synthesize existing information into the final report. The report provides several recommendations for management actions and priority research. Moving forward, the juvenile salmon information provided to this project will support part of DFO’s core annual juvenile salmon monitoring program.

Theme 2: Maintaining and rebuilding stocks

The Maintaining and Rebuilding Stocks theme details work regarding progressive and integrative planning and annual program delivery, including how information from assessment activities can be used to manage, maintain, and rebuild stocks and habitats.

Strategy 4: Integrated strategic planning

Priorities to 2022:

• Develop an initial set of long-term strategic plans (rebuilding) for prioritized Red CUs/MUs
• Complete recovery potential assessments for the COSEWIC assessed salmon species/stocks, and begin SARA recovery strategies, action plans and management plans for SARA listed species
• Investigate new research tools to diagnose and study disease and other conditions affecting wild salmon
• Continue to inform, develop, and implement sustainable aquaculture measures to mitigate impacts to wild salmon

A large portion of the Plan’s activities fall within Strategy 4, emphasizing the importance of integrating information into DFO’s numerous planning and management processes to ensure their alignment with the WSP goal and objectives. 2 activities were focused on incorporating information on CU status and habitat status into the Integrated Fisheries Management Planning (IFMP) process for Pacific salmon. These activities will continue, so that planning decisions continue to be informed by the best available information.

Several activities advanced salmon rebuilding efforts in the implementation plan period, including: a peer review process to provide Science advice on guidance for methodology to establish Limit Reference Points for salmon and progress on developing a rebuilding plan for WCVI chinook and Okanagan chinook. Much of this work remains ongoing and DFO recognizes that there is significant and sustained public interest in SARA processes and salmon rebuilding plans.

Another major set of activities under Strategy 4 center around aquaculture, both from a science and a management perspective. For example, DFO scientists conducted investigations into new research tools to diagnose and study disease and other conditions affecting wild salmon. Examples of this research include using molecular tools to identify salmon in a viral disease state, using advanced genomic techniques to support the development of diagnostic tests for pathogens, and investigating the effects of pathogens on hosts. The Salmon Strategic Health Initiative, which has now evolved into the Salmon Ecological Health Program in partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, has also been investigating cumulative effects of environmental stress and disease using new technologies and tools. Additionally, CSAS-led risk assessments were completed to provide DFO science advice regarding the risk of net-pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands area to migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon. The risk assessments provided information on 9 pathogens from aquaculture operations in the Discovery Islands area. The completed risk assessments are available online here.

From a management perspective, DFO has undertaken activities focused on mitigating and reducing the risks related to interactions between farmed salmon and wild salmon in the marine environment, including reviewing and improving marine finfish conditions of licence; strengthening the introductions and transfers review process as it pertains to marine finfish aquaculture; and, ensuring mandatory reporting related to the Aquaculture Activities Regulation. The Framework for Aquaculture Risk Management (FARM) was released in 2019 as a national guidance document which describes DFO’s aquaculture-specific risk management framework and outlines how and when the precautionary approach is used in aquaculture management. The second iteration of FARM incorporates changes based on comments from Indigenous groups, interest groups, and stakeholders. It was drafted in the spring of 2021, and is expected to be released shortly. Strengthening the licencing and transfer regime, along with the work of the FARM, have been important steps in meeting the WSP objectives of maintaining habitat and ecosystem integrity, and managing fisheries for sustainable use, as they related to marine finfish aquaculture. Lastly, the Aquaculture Activities Regulation requires all licensed aquaculture facilities to complete annual reporting on drug and pesticide deposits and benthic monitoring. DFO will continue to participate in the collection and tracking of annual reports and industry data submission, and engagement with industry around mandatory reporting is ongoing.

Hatchery production (enhancement) is 1 of 3 tools the Department can use to support at-risk wild salmon populations (the others being harvest management and habitat management); however, applied incorrectly, it can negatively impact wild populations. DFO carefully plans production lines to mitigate risks to wild salmon, including documenting hatchery enhancement in a regional database by CU. These can then be scaled up to interface with restoration projects and activities by watershed. Work is ongoing to document and map community involvement activities through a Pacific Restoration Tracker.

Additionally, production planning discussions have taken place to inform how enhancement can be used for conservation, rebuilding, and sustainable fisheries, including through the West Coast Vancouver Island chinook rebuilding plan process.

Strategy 5: Annual program delivery

Priorities to 2022:

• Continue to assess the status of salmon populations
• Continue to plan and conduct annual fisheries through Integrated Fisheries Management Plans
• Continue to encourage and support partners (First Nations, community partners and other stakeholders) in habitat management through DFO programming and with the Province of BC and Yukon Territory
• Continue to plan and implement annual salmon enhancement

A key focus of Strategy 5 is increasing alignment between the Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP) and the WSP. The Plan identified several activities to advance this work. For example, DFO implemented an integrated hatchery production planning process into the IFMP consultation process, and the production planning framework has been updated to reflect this integration. Additionally, over the past 5 years, the Department has looked to the newest hatchery science to inform production planning and decision-making. In advancing hatchery modernization, the Department is using funding under PSSI to support additional science around fish culture, including staffing more veterinarian, genetics, and research science positions. Work continues on creating biological goals for hatchery influence on wild populations for each line of production planning, based on CSAS advice regarding hatchery genetic management guidelines.

Another activity in Strategy 5 focused on incorporating risk-based standards and monitoring of harvester-funded programs into the Pacific Fisheries Monitoring and Catch Reporting Framework. DFO released the National Fishery Monitoring Policy in 2019, replacing the regional framework, and further assessments will be completed under the national Fishery Monitoring Policy Work Plan.

Theme 3: Accountability

The Accountability theme commits DFO to completing activities and reporting publicly on progress to ensure that activities and governance structures in the Plan are operationalized and effective. This will enable DFO to adjust activities to better meet the WSP goal over time.

Strategy 6: Performance review

Priorities to 2022:

• Public reporting on the WSP Implementation Plan
• Update the WSP Implementation Plan, as necessary, based on renewed Fisheries Act

The activities under Strategy 6 focused on tracking progress on the Implementation Plan activities through annual reporting, as well as undertaking a 5-year report of the Plan. 4 annual reports were completed, along with this 5-year review. The Annual Reports are available online here.

WSP Implementation Plan addendum

In 2019, DFO published An addendum to the Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan (2018-2022), following royal assent of Bill C-68, which modernized the Fisheries Act. This addendum, which is captured under Activity 48, identified 6 more activities required to ensure that programming under the renewed Fisheries Act would be developed in alignment with the WSP goal and objectives. All of the activities in the addendum were given completion dates in the 2021-22 fiscal year, however, most of these activities are better characterized as ongoing in nature, and work will continue past the end of the Implementation Plan timeframe.

In April 2022, amendments to the Fishery (General) Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, establishing the first stocks prescribed under Schedule IX Major Stock List of the Fish Stocks Provisions. 3 of the 6 addendum activities are associated with these provisions; work is ongoing to coordinate implementation of these new provisions including developing rebuilding plans, and to determine a methodology for establishing Limit Reference Points for SMUs comprised of multiple CUs.

Another area of focus related to the renewed Fisheries Act is the continuing engagement related to policy development under the Habitat Protection Provisions and overall alignment and consistency of terms between the Fisheries Act and the WSP. Through strategic planning and using the best available data, the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) will continue to engage with partners to identify and act on priority protection and restoration activities that can benefit salmon. This work will further DFO’s ability to address threats to salmon through data sharing and co-development of spatial GIS tools. Partnerships are also being leveraged to begin planning for salmon recovery and protection at both the watershed and sub-regional scales.

Are we closer to the WSP’s goals and objectives?

The goals and objectives of the WSP remain relevant and urgent. Since the Plan was published, there has been considerable progress in characterizing salmon stocks and understanding the invaluable genetic diversity represented in 462 CUs. DFO has produced annual reports on key performance indicators under the Plan, in part to help gauge and track whether activities committed to under the Plan have led to improved conditions for salmon populations and their habitats. This work has included quantitative performance indicators, which complement qualitative and narrative information, as well as the work being conducted in various science forums. These indicators support a greater understanding of the Department’s overall efforts on assessment and monitoring, as well as integrated strategic planning to support the restoration and maintenance of healthy salmon populations and their habitats. This information is included in the key performance indicator table below.

Despite some challenges, significant strides have been made in advancing our collective understanding of salmon populations in BC and Yukon over the course of the implementation period. COVID-19 led to delays of field work and data collection needed to advance certain activities, while the Big Bar landslide, and climate change-induced threats like extreme heat, wildfires, and floods meant DFO staff and resources had to shift priorities numerous times during the implementation period to respond to these threats to salmon and their habitats. Additionally, the 2019 amendments to the Fisheries Act, and specifically the inclusion of the Fish Stocks Provisions, has led to additional work to align CUs and SMUs with major fish stocks specified under Schedule IX of the Fishery (General) Regulations. As of April 2022, 3 salmon stocks have been prescribed into regulation – West Coast Vancouver Island chinook, Okanagan chinook, and Interior Fraser coho. Work will continue to ensure that, for salmon prescribed through this regulatory process, WSP status assessments and strategic planning processes are aligned with identified Limit Reference Points and rebuilding plans for any stocks below their Limit Reference Point. Additionally, COSEWIC has assessed 62 salmon DUs, and designated 43 as at-risk. The Species at Risk Program is now working with colleagues in Fisheries Management, Science, FFHPP, the new Salmon Stewardship Directorate created under PSSI, BC, Wildlife Management Boards, and Indigenous groups to develop listing advice that will support the Governor in Council in deciding on whether or not to list the DUs assessed as at risk under SARA. Ongoing work and coordination are required between the SARA processes, Fish Stocks Provisions requirements, strategic planning, and rebuilding efforts under PSSI, and continued implementation of WSP Strategies.

Despite significant progress under the Plan, many salmon populations are continuing to experience serious declines. Efforts to date, including sustained harvest reductions over the past 30 years, have not been successful in reversing these declines. Pacific Salmon landed value data from 1952 - 2020 show substantial declines in both total landings and in landed value (Figure 1).

Some general trends in Canadian Pacific salmon abundances are emerging, as outlined in DFO’s 2019 State of Canadian Pacific Salmon report. Chinook numbers are generally declining throughout their BC and Yukon range, with the exception of average to above average returns in Lower Georgia Strait. Sockeye and coho numbers are also declining, most notably at southern latitudes. Salmon that spend less time in freshwater, like river-type sockeye, ocean-type chinook, odd year pink, and chum are generally doing better, though in recent years chum have also started to return in poorer numbers in British Columbia. In work done by the State of the Salmon Program, climate change has been identified as the key driver of salmon population trends, affecting the freshwater and marine ecosystems that salmon use throughout their lives. Prolonged marine heatwaves are reducing the quality of food for salmon near the base of their food webs. Summer river temperatures are more frequently too warm for salmon. These climate related effects will generally increase over time, and impacts will vary by salmon population based on the unique ecosystems, fisheries, and other factors salmon experience cumulatively over their lives. Factors such as habitat changes, fisheries, disease, and pollutants can act alone or cumulatively to affect salmon population trends, and they are all embedded within this climate change context.

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

Given the scope of challenges facing wild Pacific salmon, particularly the growing effects from climate change and related factors, DFO recognizes that a bold and targeted response with concrete actions is required to effectively address the steeply declining trends in many Pacific salmon populations, and rebuild the species where possible. Budget 2021 announced an historic and transformational investment of over $740M over 5 years for the PSSI which will advance targeted actions through 4 key pillars:

1. Conservation and Stewardship: improved habitat monitoring and assessment, and integrated salmon ecosystem planning and restoration with partners
2. Salmon Enhancement: support salmon conservation, rebuilding, and targeted fishing opportunities through new hatchery facilities and enhanced scientific expertise
3. Harvest Transformation: transformation of salmon fisheries to improve stability and resilience in the harvest sector
4. Integration and Collaboration: integration across federal salmon activities; collaboration through enhanced partnerships with Indigenous, provincial, territorial, and international governments

The PSSI builds on and supports the years of engagement, consultations, and work that Indigenous communities, commercial and recreational fishers, grassroots organizations, scientists, and others have contributed towards the protection and recovery of Pacific salmon. Together, concurrent work under the 4 pillars provide a holistic framework, which is further supported by 5 horizontal principles: Indigenous Reconciliation; Innovative Solutions; Prioritization; Enhanced Transparency, Data and Trust; and Partnerships and Collaboration.

With funding and authorities in place and, foundational actions taken, including broad initial engagement, PSSI is now in its implementation stage, with initial activities underway to address multiple drivers of Pacific salmon stock declines, including climate change, through new strategic investments, and early salmon rebuilding activities. The PSSI Secretariat has designed a 5-year implementation strategy and pathway to results which outlines priority areas of action. By the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, the PSSI Secretariat expects to have determined an initial short list of prioritized SMUs to be the focus of initial rebuilding planning, with a target of having plans developed and guiding prioritized DFO rebuilding activities by 2026.

Through the PSSI, an enhanced focus on engagement and collaboration with First Nations, as well as engagement with other levels of governments, harvesters, environmental non-governmental organizations, communities, academia, and others, will enable greater collaboration on actions that will have the greatest impact towards shared Pacific salmon conservation objectives.

Early engagement on PSSI took place over 2021-22, with a focus on how First Nations, partners, and stakeholders want to be engaged. By Spring 2022, more than 80 general engagement meetings had been held. The meetings provided an overview of the PSSI’s vision, pillars, themes, intended outcomes, and overall engagement approach, and helped provide insights and feedback to inform PSSI implementation planning going forward. As more work under the Initiative is advanced, further engagement has and will continue to be undertaken, in some cases using new enhanced collaborative processes focussed on Pacific salmon conservation and rebuilding.

Since Pacific salmon recovery depends on many factors, it is important to understand that collective efforts to rebuild Pacific salmon stocks will take time to fully show results. Recognizing this time frame, the PSSI will have a combination of short, medium and long-term milestones to ensure we are making meaningful progress in conserving and rebuilding Pacific salmon and salmon habitat. Through PSSI, further work is also being advanced on a more robust Pacific salmon performance measurement approach beyond 2022. The Department has undertaken initial work on milestones and targets for DFO salmon activities over the next 5 years, with further refinement expected as the implementation details are determined in collaboration with First Nations and other partners.

This report marks the end of the current phase of WSP implementation and helps set the stage for continued implementation of the WSP in the context of PSSI. To that end, the WSP will continue to guide and inform DFO’s work on Pacific salmon. Many elements of the PSSI are grounded in the WSP and the Implementation Plan more specifically, as well as informed by WSP consultations with First Nations and stakeholders.

Table 9 below, as well as the subsequent narrative, highlights key links between WSP Strategies and action Steps and PSSI Initiatives and Themes. New PSSI investments and activities will complement and build on the foundation of Pacific salmon efforts to date under the Plan and beyond, and continue to complement and advance the goal and objectives of the WSP.

WSP Strategy 1: Standardized monitoring of wild salmon status

Much of the key work under WSP Strategy 1 has been completed, or will be ongoing through existing programs and funding. 462 CUs have been identified, along with a methodology to revise CU descriptions and identifications as needed. While only 9.1% of CUs have WSP biological benchmarks and CU status assessment results, assessments are ongoing. Salmon stocks and CUs are also monitored annually, and available monitoring data is used in status assessments. PSSI will support further targeted actions being taken on prioritized Pacific salmon stocks through conservation and rebuilding measures. Priority Pacific salmon populations are protected and restored through targeted action in collaboration with partners.

WSP Strategy 2: Assessment of habitat status and WSP Strategy 3: Inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring

Through additional targeted science and improved data integration under PSSI, work under the Conservation and Stewardship pillar will help better our understanding of salmon ecosystems – rivers, estuaries, migration paths, stressors, and their interactions– to drive effective decision-making around ecosystem planning and habitat restoration. Initiatives within themes of Habitat Monitoring and Assessment and Integrated Planning and Restoration under the Conservation and Stewardship pillar will build upon work completed or still underway within WSP Strategy 2, in order to ultimately inform inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring (WSP Strategy 3) into Integrated Salmon Ecosystem Planning processes, as well as rebuilding plans for prioritized stocks. These planning processes will utilize information including habitat characteristics and ecosystem status, to identify and help prioritize management actions to be undertaken by DFO and partners to support better outcomes for salmon and their habitats. Inclusion of climate change information from the State of the Salmon Program in planning processes, for example, is of particular importance as the need to better understand climate change adaption is emerging as a key factor now and going forward for salmon.

WSP Strategy 4: Integrated strategic planning

The PSSI will be advancing integrated strategic planning for salmon conservation, stewardship, and collaboration with key partners. There are 2 pillars relevant to the integrated strategic planning actions. First, the Conservation and Stewardship pillar aims to improve habitat monitoring and assessment and integrated ecosystem planning and restoration, together with partners. Second, the Integration and Collaboration pillar aims to improve outcomes from federal Pacific salmon activities, based on clearer priorities and improved collaboration and coordination with First Nations and Indigenous organizations, as well as the Province of British Columbia and Yukon Territory, other salmon partners, and stakeholders. Work under the Integration and Collaboration Pillar will also support improved integration of activities across the other 3 PSSI pillars.

Another key linkage is between WSP Strategy 4 and the new DFO Salmon Stewardship Directorate, including a Centre of Expertise for Salmon Habitat Restoration launched as part of PSSI. Both new initiatives recognize and reflect the importance of bringing together information on Pacific salmon stock status, habitat and ecosystem status and limiting factors, and threats from human and non-human sources in order to develop truly integrated strategic planning for salmon conservation and rebuilding. PSSI’s Salmon Stewardship Directorate also includes establishment of an Integrated Salmon Rebuilding Unit within DFO Pacific Region, which will be responsible for developing and initiating integrated rebuilding/conservation plans for an initial set of prioritized stocks by 2026.

DFO is also developing new mechanisms to promote more effective collaboration and support the important work of partner organizations, which will help enhance the effectiveness of salmon stewardship, rebuilding, and habitat restoration projects across Pacific region. The Integration and Collaboration pillar of PSSI aims to improve outcomes from federal Pacific salmon activities, based on clear priorities and improved collaboration and coordination with First Nations and Indigenous organizations, as well as relevant provincial and territorial partners, and salmon stakeholders.

WSP Strategy 5: Annual program delivery

PSSI will continue to support and expand DFO’s previous Pacific salmon program delivery. Action steps under WSP Strategy 5 will be further advanced and are well-aligned to key activities under 3 PSSI pillars: Conservation and Stewardship, Salmon Enhancement, and Harvest Transformation.

Assessing the status of CUs and populations, in addition to planning and implementing annual habitat management activities will be advanced under the Conservation and Stewardship pillar. For example, under this pillar, PSSI will be making investments in research, stock assessment, habitat restoration, and enforcement.

The WSP also recognizes that enhancement can be a useful conservation tool for sustaining wild salmon. Much of the work under the Salmon Enhancement pillar is similarly focused on conservation; PSSI initiatives will focus on hatchery production as a management tool to support the conservation and rebuilding of fragile Pacific salmon stocks, and support sustainable fishing opportunities for harvest. In order to mitigate potential concerns on the impacts of hatchery activities on wild salmon and genetic diversity, DFO will employ a variety of measures including increased oversight and governance, increased scientific tools and expertise, and increased technology and policy support.

Planning and implementing annual enhancement activities will be advanced under the PSSI’s Salmon Enhancement pillar. Under this pillar, a new Pacific salmon enhancement policy framework is being developed, which will align salmon enhancement with hatchery reform and the broader DFO vision for Pacific salmon. Guided by this new framework, new investments will allow hatcheries to be built, and experts have been working to identify potential locations for the new conservation hatcheries. Additionally, improvements and retrofits of existing hatcheries will continue into 2022-23 and beyond.

With regard to the PSSI’s Harvest Transformation pillar, initiatives including commercial fishery closures, Salmon Allocation Policy renewal, and modernized management approaches for Indigenous, commercial, and recreational salmon fisheries, will support the overarching goal of the WSP, while informing how, where, when, for what purpose, and by whom salmon fishing is carried out in the future. Changes aim to make fisheries more selective, improve fishery monitoring, and provide tools to make fisheries more adaptable in the face of changing conditions. These management initiatives will be an important consideration in developing and implementing conservation-focused integrated strategic salmon plans, both under the PSSI and for plans developed under the WSP.

WSP Strategy 6: Performance review

Several PSSI sub-initiatives under the theme of Integration and Collaboration pillar are closely linked with WSP Strategy 6. Moving forward, PSSI is committed to enhanced transparency and accountability on Pacific salmon program delivery and meaningful tracking towards results. The Department will report on activities undertaken and establish clear performance measures. These reports will be informed by integrated PSSI program monitoring and evaluation activities, coordinated by the new PSSI Secretariat within DFO. Moreover, this new group is leading development of a Pacific salmon results strategy in response to findings of the 2021 Evaluation of DFO’s activities in support of Pacific Salmon conducted by DFO. The evaluation calls for the development of a strategic direction, vision, and clear results for Pacific salmon, improved integrated governance, and enhanced coordination for tracking resources and transfer payments (i.e. grants and contributions programs) in support of Pacific salmon. Work to respond to all 5 of the key recommendations of the evaluation are currently underway.

Other Regional initiatives supporting salmon rebuilding

BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund update

The BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) was launched on March 15, 2019. BCSRIF is a cost-shared federal/provincial program that supports the protection and restoration of wild Pacific salmon and other BC fish stocks, as well as projects to ensure the fish and seafood sector in BC is positioned for long-term environmental and economic sustainability. When the program was originally launched, total funding amounted to $142.85 million over 5 years, with 70% of the funding being provided by the federal government and 30% coming from the Province of BC. Due to sustained, high interest in the Fund, and early results from funded projects, Budget 2021 committed to doubling the federal funding to BCSRIF with an additional $100 million committed as a key initiative under the PSSI. The 3rd BCSRIF application intake closed on November 15, 2022 with the next suite of funding recommendations anticipated early in the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Prior to each application intake, joint funding priorities established to reflect DFO and BC's interests and support current government priorities. Examples of projects include:

• K’omoks First Nation and partners will return an abandoned industrial site in the heart of their traditional territory back into functioning habitat. The former industrial sawmill is situated in the heart of the salmon migration corridor for the watersheds of 2 major rivers: the Puntledge and the Tsolum. The restoration of this site will improve access to Food, Social and Ceremonial uses of salmon, provide increased recreational fishing opportunities, and support the recovery of Southern Resident Orca populations.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada will work with partners to implement 3 large-scale projects to restore key Fraser River estuary tidal marsh habitat and access to these critical habitats for the benefit of COSEWIC-assessed Fraser River chinook, coho, steelhead, and sockeye salmon populations, as well as other juvenile salmon populations, white sturgeon, and other wild BC fish stocks. These efforts aim to reverse the effects of human-caused impacts to the Fraser River estuary, which, combined with the anticipated future effects of sea-level rise, severely impair ecological resilience and wild BC salmon survival.
• The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority will undertake small scale enhancement and habitat restoration projects to maximize spawner success over the next 5 years and to identify the limiting factors to Kitwanga sockeye production. The goal of the project is to identify and develop solutions to ultimately stop and reverse the decline of Kitwanga sockeye and help rebuild the stock.
• The Pacific Salmon Foundation will work with partners to create a Climate Action Plan for BC salmon through 3 initial project components: developing improved genetic baselines to understand genetic differences at a scale finer than CUs; developing a ‘Playbook’ to guide landscape recovery strategies and priorities for salmon following major fires; and assessing Fraser River migration impediments.

Under the expanded program, BCSRIF will continue to prioritize research and restoration projects, as well as other activities that provide benefits to salmon, such as the eradication of Aquatic Invasive Species and sustainable fishing methodologies that reduce impacts to non-target stocks. Strong partnerships, incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge, and the development of new and innovative strategies in response to climate change and evolving environmental factors will continue to be key elements of successful BCSRIF projects.

Big Bar Landslide

On June 23, 2019, a significant landslide was reported in a remote, rugged canyon along the Fraser River near Big Bar, north of Lillooet, British Columbia, on the traditional territory of the Secwepemc Nation. Huge pieces of rock and substantial debris sheared off from a 125-metre cliff and crashed into the river, creating a 5-metre waterfall. Further analysis confirmed that approximately 110,000 cubic metres (m3) of debris fell into the river. This barrier prevented migrating Pacific Fraser salmon from moving beyond the landslide to reach their spawning grounds, thus impacting the reproductive cycle of several key Upper Fraser salmon populations.

Working with First Nations partners and the Province remains an integral part of DFO’s response to the Big Bar landslide. In 2021, more normal water levels and improvement to the “nature-like” fishway allowed over 1.9 million fish to migrate past the slide site without assistance. However, there remains a problem that will challenge passage 10-25% of the time.

Between February and March 2021, multiple rock fall incidents and extreme weather impacted crew safety at the work site and forced a halt to further work on the permanent fishway. Installation of a permanent fishway, as originally designed, was determined to be no longer possible by May 2022 due to slope stability issues and the challenges posed by the extreme weather conditions. In the immediate-term, and through summer 2022, the plan is to continue with the best available solution, which is transporting fish from below the slide site to closer to their spawning areas above the landslide. We will learn from our experiences so far to ensure a higher rate of survival for the salmon. Though not ideal, this represents the most effective means of preserving the genetic diversity of these salmon populations in the short-term. The emergency enhancement of at-risk upper Fraser salmon stocks and a comprehensive monitoring program remain integral parts of the response efforts.

Work is currently underway on the first phase of a Structured Decision Making process to determine a long-term solution for restoring fish passage for early arriving stocks at Big Bar. DFO, in partnership with First Nations and the Province of BC, continues to collaborate as an integrated team.

Conclusion

DFO is continuing to move forward with our commitment to conserve and rebuild wild salmon populations, alongside key partners. The work DFO has undertaken to implement the WSP makes it well-positioned to support requirements under the modernized Fisheries Act, and also sets a solid foundation for the PSSI moving forward. This work, along with the efforts by so many others in BC and the Yukon, is an important step toward reaching the evergreen goal of restoring and maintaining diverse salmon populations for the benefit of the people and ecosystems of Canada in perpetuity. At the same time, ongoing environmental and climate change issues, plus unforeseen challenges, such as the Big Bar landslide and the COVID-19 pandemic, are contributing to shape the broader context for salmon restoration and conservation efforts. These and other challenges will require constant learning, reflection, and adaption in our efforts to conserve and rebuild Pacific salmon populations for future generations.

Annex A: Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan resources and acronyms

Legislative and policy resources

• Canada’s Oceans Now
• Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
• Cowichan Watershed Health and Chinook Initiative
• Government of Canada Open Data Portal
• Modernized Fisheries Act
• North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
• NuSEDS – New Salmon Escapement Database System
• Pacific Region Integrated Fisheries Management Plans
• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• Regulations Amending the Fishery (General) Regulations
• Salish Sea Marine Survival Project – Research Findings
• Salmonid Enhancement Program Production Planning: A Framework
• Species at Risk Act
• State of the Pacific Ocean Reports
• Wild Salmon Policy
• Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan
• Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan Highlights, 2005-2017
• Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan Annual Reports
• Sustainable Fisheries Framework

Selected scientific publications

• Atlas, W.I., Selbie, D.T., Holt, C.A., Cox-Rogers, S., Carr-Harris, C., Pitman, K.J. and Moore, J.W. (2020) Landscape and biophysical controls of lake productivity to inform evaluation of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) populations in data-limited regions. Limnology and Oceanography, 65: 2205-2219.
• Bahri, T., Vasconcellos, M., Welch, D.J., Johnson, J., Perry, R.I., Ma, X. & Sharma, R., eds. (2021) Adaptive management of fisheries in response to climate change. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 667. Rome, FAO.
• DFO. (2021) Science Guidelines to Support Development of Rebuilding Plans for Canadian Fish Stocks. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2021/006.
• DFO. (2018) The 2017 Fraser Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) integrated biological status re-assessment under the Wild Salmon Policy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2018/017.
• DFO. (2016) Integrated Biological Status of Southern British Columbia Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Under the Wild Salmon Policy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/042.
• DFO. (2015) Wild salmon policy biological status assessment for conservation units of interior Fraser River Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2015/022.
• Grant, S.C.H., MacDonald, B.L., Winston, M.L. (2019) State of Canadian Pacific Salmon: Responses to Changing Climate and Habitats. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3332.
• Irvine, J.R., Chapman, K., Park, J. (2019) Technical Report 13, Report of the Proceedings for the IYS Workshop: International Year of the Salmon Workshop on Salmon Status and Trends. North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.
• MacDonald, B.L., Grant, S.C.H., Wilson, N., Patterson, D.A., Robinson, K.A., Boldt, J.L., King, J. Anderson, E., Decker, S., Leaf, B., Pon, L., Xu, Y., Davis, B., & Selbie, D.T. (2020) State of the Salmon: Informing the survival of Fraser Sockeye returning in 2020 through life cycle observations. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 3398: v + 76 p.
• Peacock, S., Hertz, E., Holt, C.A., Connors, B, Freshwater, C. and Connors, K. (2018) Evaluating the consequences of common assumptions in run reconstructions on Pacific-salmon biological status assessments. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Volume 77, Number 12.
• Pearsall, I., Schmidt, M., Kemp, I., Riddell, B. (2021) Factors Limiting Survival of Juvenile Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon and Steelhead in the Salish Sea: Synthesis of Findings of the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project. Pacific Salmon Foundation.
• Withler, R.E., Bradford, M.J., Willis, D.M., and Holt, C. (2018) Genetically Based Targets for Enhanced Contributions to Canadian Pacific Chinook Salmon Populations. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2018/019. xii + 88 p.
• Wade, J., Hamilton, S., Baxter, B., Brown, G., Grant, S.C.H., Holt, C., Thiess, M., and Withler, R. (2019) Framework for reviewing and approving revisions to Wild Salmon Policy conservation units. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2019/015. v + 29 p.

Select abbreviations

• BCSRIF: BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund
• COSEWIC: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
• CSAS: Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
• CU: Conservation Unit
• DU: Designatable Unit
• DFO: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• FFHPP: Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program
• IFMP: Integrated Fisheries Management Plan
• LRP: Limit Reference Point
• MPA: Marine Protected Area
• NuSEDS: New Salmon Escapement Database Systems
• RAMS: Risk Assessment Method for Salmon
• RPA: Recovery Potential Assessment
• SARA: Species at Risk Act
• SEP: Salmon Enhancement Program
• SMU: Stock Management Unit
• SSHI: Strategic Salmon Health Initiative
• PSF: Pacific Salmon Foundation
• PSSI: Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• WCVI: West Coast Vancouver Island
• WSP: Wild Salmon Policy

Annex B: WSP Implementation Plan Activity status

This is the detailed companion document that outlines specific activity statuses and key work completed as of the end of the Implementation Plan timeline (2018-2022).