Fisheries & Aquaculture Department

 About us  What do we do  Programs  Graduates Presentation Overview  Chase River Salmon Enhancement Hatchery  White Sturgeon Culture  International Centre for Sturgeon Studies  Anadromous Cutthroat Trout Project  Nile Creek Enhancement Society

Professors Technologists Chris Foote – Fisheries Ecology Don Furnell – Fish Culture Mark Noyon - Engineering Duane Barker – Fish Health, Marine Ecology Stefanie Duff – Invertebrate Ecology Frank Dalziel – Chase River Hatchery Gord Edmondson – Sturgeon culture and facilities Anne McCarthy - Lab Who we are?

What do we do?  Have a hand in conserving, managing, and enhancing marine and freshwater aquatic resources  Cultivate and harvest fish, shellfish or marine plants for the replenishment of wild stocks or for commercial sale Emphasis on teaching and learning to prepare students for employment

Facilities – On Campus

Training Programs Technical Diploma  2 years Bachelor of Science  2.5 – 3 years Short Courses  Natural Resources Extension Program Combination of practical hands-on field experience and academic course work

Graduates Our graduates work all over BC and many contribute directly to recreational fisheries

Fisheries & Aquaculture Department The really exciting stuff!

Salmon Escapement Estimates Chase River Salmon Enhancement Program Hatchery Urban stream Students collect escapement data Produce a year-end population estimate for coho

Chase River Salmon Enhancement Program Hatchery Enhancement Culture Federally funded (SEP) Coho hatchery Managed by Frank and staffed with Fish/Aqua students Egg incubation, adult holding, and juv. rearing facilities

Chase River Salmon Enhancement Program Hatchery - Last May, 10,000 coho fry released into the Nanaimo River (brood from there) Stock Enhancement

White Sturgeon Culture White sturgeon research for over 20 years Only academic institution in Canada to have captive white sturgeon broodstock Oldest fish is approx 37 years old and weighs 170 lbs! We have over 75 fish on campus ranging from juveniles to adults Our goal: aid in conserving & restoring endangered sturgeon populations worldwide. Sturgeon are “living fossils” – they have been around for 200 million years

White Sturgeon Culture Broodstock spawned in captivity every summer Students employed as hatchery technicians over the summer Very hands on approach to learning!

White Sturgeon Culture

International Centre for Sturgeon Studies To be constructed at VIU North America High quality & innovative research: - sturgeon biology - management - hatchery technology for enhancement /restoration and commercial purposes Research will aid in conserving and restoring endangered sturgeon populations worldwide. Not just for sturgeon research! -Recreational fisheries

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Project o Began in 2005 o Field sampling: min 1/week April – October o 2 Fish/Aqua students + Frank o Sample areas: tidal waters near the Englishman River and Nile Creek estuary o Undergone extensive habitat rehab Overview

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Project o Least known about cutthroat biology & ecology o Species of management concern o FFSBC stock some high priority areas o No test fishing yet stocking occurs o Hatchery managers need info on stock fish performance Why study cutthroat?

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Project Sampling data recorded… Approximate capture location Length and weight Time of capture Stage of tide Scale External parasite load Hook scars, location, bleeding Note presence of other species and use by recreational anglers Obvious presence of prey species # anglers

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Project Info will be used by… Measure growth of stocked fish Calculate catch per unit effort (CPUE) Assess status & distribution of wild populations in the area Develop detailed sea-run cutthroat revitalization strategy for each stream Vancouver Island University faculty & students Ministry of Environment Biologists to…

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Project This project would not be possible without financial donations from many sponsors and friends of sea- run cutthroat trout: ISLAND WATERS FLY FISHERS PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION & LIVING RIVERS, GEORGIA BASIN NANAIMO FISH & GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION COWICHAN FLY FISHERS CASTAWAYS FLY FISHERS CHEMANIUS ROD & GUN CLUB LADYSMITH SPORTSMAN’S CLUB PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM FISH & GAME ASSOCIATION FRENCH CREEK FISHING FESTIVAL MALASPINA RESEARCH FUND & BAMFIELD FELLOWSHIP & WORK-O TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA HAIG BROWN FLY FISHING ASSOCIATION NILE CREEK ENHANCEMENT SOCIETY

JANUARY-MARCH 2008: STUDENTS HELPED ALL VOLUNTEERS TAKING ENVIRONMENTALS, MEASURING FISH AND FEEDING PINKS IN NET PENS STUDENTS BACK AT VIU LAB CONDUCTED FISH HEALTH ASSESSMENTS OF THE PINKS CURRENTLY: STUDENTS ACTIVELY SURVEYING THAMES CREEK TO EVENTUALLY MAP THE SYSTEM THIS SUMMER STUDENTS ASSESS THE FIRST RETURN OF PINKS FROM THE NET PENS (1.5 YRS. AGO): MORE FISHING! Nile Creek Enhancement Society

VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY NILE CREEK ENHANCEMENT SOCIETY TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA Salmon Enhancement Partnerships HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 5 SMALL CREEKS IN THE QUALICUM BAY AREA (2 KM SOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF BIG QUALICUM – BOWSWER) REFERRED TO AS CUTTHROAT FACTORIES INCLUDE EEL GRASS AND KELP ENHANCEMENT

This is what it is all about… Training the present & future stewards of our precious fisheries resources

Fisheries & Aquaculture Department Thank you all for your time Any questions?