Page 6 - 2019 Annual Report
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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS
“The citizen science initiative is Invasive Species Monitoring
making such great connections Invasive species are usually characterized as having prolific reproduction and,
between research, community, in the absence of natural predators, rapid population growth leading to direct
education and the environment that competition for habitat and food. This can lead to negative ecosystem impacts
otherwise may not have taken place through disrupted food webs, as well as reproduction and habitat loss for native
in such a well holistic manner.” species.
- Jay Walls, Science Teacher, We monitor 2 species; the European green crab and tunicates as part of
Elphinstone Secondary School this program. Tunicates are monitored by obtaining underwater footage of
public docks within 4 locations in Pender Harbour including Whiskey Slough
Government Dock, Madeira Park Government Dock, John Henry’s Marina and
Irvines Landing (PODS) Dock.
Dock footage was obtained at all 4 docks within Pender Harbour for 7 months
of 2019. Videos revealed invasive tunicates at all docks surveyed, with the most
occurring in December. A total of 6 green crab surveys were completed between
May 30 and October 18. Most traps did not result in any crabs being caught
save for one Hairy shore crab on May 30 and 1 red rock on September 6 at Jim’s
Beach in Gerrans Bay.
Juvenile Salmon (Smolt) Monitoring
Juvenile smolt monitoring was added to the PHCWMP in 2019. As mentioned
above, we have been conducting salmon escapement enumeration since 2017
and reporting to the Strait of Georgia Salmon Technician. We have started
collecting data on salmon that return to creeks within the Anderson Creek
Watershed, but have no data on the fish leaving the creeks. A monitoring
program for juvenile smolt migration from natal creeks within the Pender
Harbour region seemed like a good fit to gain insight into the bigger picture of
salmon migration. Studies conducted by the Pacific Salmon Foundation indicate
that juvenile salmon mortality is understudied and may be a large contributing
factor in population declines.
Monitoring is conducted by counting juvenile fish each spring using a 30m
seine net deployed from a small boat. The nets are set up and pulled towards
the beach. The number of salmon are counted, visually inspected for sea lice
and then released. Other incidental fish are counted and recorded however; no
further parameters are collected.
A total of 13 sampling events occurred between May 21 and August 30, 2019. A
total of 289 juvenile salmon and 8,106 other species of fish were caught between
May 21 and August 30 between the three sampling sites. A total of 31 seines
were completed during this time. Many of the juvenile salmon had lamprey
marks. Sea lice were noted on many of the fish caught.
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