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Research Team


Seana Buchanan (current graduate student) and Rick Shaw (member of Owikeno First Nation and crew member) inspecting the juvenile salmon catch on board the Western Bounty.

Many people are working together on this project, and the eventual team will include many more. So far, three other biologists have collaborated with me on the fjord ecology work:

  • Dr. Ron Tanasichuk at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Biological Station
  • Ms. Seana Buchanan, M.Sc. grad student (co-supervised by Ron and myself)
  • Ms. Jodi Grayson, a private consultant working out of the Bamfield Marine Science Center

Dr. Marlow Pellatt of Parks Canada and Simon Fraser University’s School of Resource and Environmental Management, Dr. Darren Bos of Parks Canada, and Prof. Bruce Finney of the University of Alaska worked with me on the sediment coring in the Fall of 2002.

This first season also provided an opportunity to develop a strong working relationship with the Owikeno and Gwa’sala First Nations through the chartering of the Owikeno seine boat, the Western Bounty. The skipper, Mr. Glenn Johnson, who is also a hereditary chief, and his Owikeno and Gwa’sala crew provided much valuable local knowledge in addition to operating the vessel and fishing gear. In addition, we were able to make use of the local expertise of first nations and federal field technicians, aboriginal elders, and retired federal fisheries employees with experience in the area. We intend to continue developing these

The Western Bounty
working relationships and progressively to turn over substantial portions of the work in the inlets to such individuals. Several other scientists will join the team for the hydrodynamic and coastal ocean ecology components. The project will also have ongoing support from Dr. Patricia Gallaugher (Acting Director of Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Coastal Studies) in developing scientific workshops and information-sharing opportunities with aboriginal groups, management agencies, and the general public.

Please read on to learn more about the specifics of the project -- return to Rivers Inlet Project Main Page and click on the links at the left-hand side of the page.