In this episode, host Auston Chhor sits down with Tom Rutherford, Executive Director of the Cowichan Watershed Board. Tom has been involved in building partnerships to support community empowerment for salmon and watershed sustainability over nearly 40 years. Over the course of a long career with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and working with Living Rivers / British Columbia Conservation Foundation, Tom has evolved into a talented science communicator.

What even is a watershed board? This is the question Auston first asks Tom, getting the conversation flowing into how the practice of opening ears can open minds, and lead to opening doors for opportunity. In Tom’s work with the board, he highlights the need to listen, shift perceptions, and consider the concept of whether we have enough science, but need more social science.

“My theory is there’s not enough of us who are engaged professionally in this work to make a difference. In order to move the needle, we have to bring everyone along with us.”

A solution? Outreach and engagement. Tom and Auston provide some examples of great science communication, and discuss how it can occasionally be looked at condescendingly, or completely overlooked altogether.

Other topics include: the 2003 Chinook crisis in the Cowichan River, the 2023 unprecedented fish mortality event, a six foot tall dancing Chinook, and how things aren’t going to be the same, but they’re going to be okay (if we take action).

Additional resources:

• Cowichan Watershed Board
• Tom’s home waters: Kelvin Creek Watershed, a small tributary of the Koksilah
• The 2003 Chinook Crisis in the Cowichan River
• Poisonous shellfish warnings on Vancouver Island
• Watershed superheroes, Water Woman
• Mr. Floatie, Victoria’s dancing piece of poop to advocate for water treatment
• Chinook Shimmy, Cowichan Watershed Board’s dancing salmon
• 2023 fish mortality event

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

In this episode of More than a fish, host Auston Chhor returns to the roots of seeing salmon as sustenance, culture, and identity through speaking with guest Murray Ned, a member of the Sumas First Nation located in the Fraser Valley. He also formerly served as Councillor for Sumas First Nation and as the Fisheries Manager for the Sto:lo Tribal Council.

Murray is the Executive Director of the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, where he is a part of numerous regional and provincial fishery committees, task, and working groups. The LFFA is an Indigenous technical organization that works to advance the collective fisheries interests of Lower Fraser First Nations. One of the ways they do this is by holding monthly fishers Forums to discuss common issues in the lower Fraser River and its tributaries, where each member Nation of the 30 that compose the LFFA (24 signatory, 6 non-signatory) sends a delegate.

“We’ve got an obligation — an inherent obligation — to look after the resource, the water, plus those that rely on the water, including the salmon… we also have an obligation to bridge relationships and understand that we have to look after the fish wherever they migrate.” – Murray Ned

Auston asks Murray to travel back to his first memory of salmon, how he made the jump from millwright to fisheries management, as well as his visions for the Lower Fraser. They then go on to discuss the Fraser River Sockeye collapse of 2009, when over 10 million fish were estimated to return but only a fraction actually showed.

Can a crisis bring people together? Or is it a matter of fighting over what’s left?

Additional resources:

• The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and Member Nations
• Fraser River Sockeye collapse of 2009
• The Abbotsford Flood 2021
• Q&A with Murray Ned; Fraser Valley Current
• Learn more about this season’s host, Auston Chhor
• Learn more about Raincoast’s wild salmon program

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

A salmon habitat biologist and a recreational angler sit down to record a podcast…

Some say that scientists may butt heads with those who love fishing, but the two groups have more in common than one may think. This week, Auston Chhor chats with Rodney Hsu, founder and host of the popular YouTube channel Fishing with Rod, whose videos have amassed over 23 million views. Auston himself learned how to fish by watching Rod’s content, and has been a longtime fan and subscriber (one of the channel’s 81,000 of them).

Rod first started the channel in 2001, teaching those who tuned in about saltwater and freshwater angling throughout BC. He’s a prominent voice for the recreational angling community, serving as a public advisor for the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and a representative of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Upper Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee.

The two discuss Rod’s 25-year journey building the brand and how it evolved into an online cornucopia of information for those wanting to break into the world of fishing in BC, a space where the knowledge gap can be vast and intimidating with regulations and timing, let alone technique.

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding… I think most people who get into fishing really want to do the right thing. No one intentionally wants to harm fish, or poach, or do anything illegal, and it’s really hard to follow the regulations. That’s where I came in, to bridge that gap.” – Rodney Hsu

The conversation goes on to explore the impact of catch and release angling, hot button issues between the recreational sector and decisionmakers, as well as fishing being a pathway to caring.

“We all want the same thing — we all want sustainability in salmon returns. We just disagree on a few other things… like how to achieve that.” – Rodney Hsu

Additional resources:

• Fishing with Rod
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Website
• Video with Dave Scott: Reclaiming Fraser River Estuary for Juvenile Pacific Salmon | Fishing with Rod
• Keep Fish Wet: Science-based advice to help anglers improve the outcome for each fish they release
• New study reveals pathways to transform conflict over contentious salmon and killer whale management in BC; Identifying opportunities towards conflict transformation in an Orca-Salmon-Human system

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

In this episode, host Auston Chhor is joined by fellow Raincoast team members Dr. Allison Dennert, Quantitative Salmon Ecologist, and Dave Scott, Research and Restoration Coordinator for the Lower Fraser Salmon Program, who provide some fundamental background information on all things salmon.

Discussing their focus areas, Allison and Dave talk about different species, life cycles, and the challenges salmon face. Diving deeper, Allison explains the connection between fish and land, pulling from her doctoral research on the connections between salmon and coastal plant communities. Dave takes us into the world of hard hats and habitat restoration, collaborating with municipalities on urban salmon, and working in the Fraser River estuary, which many call the “Grand Central Station” of juveniles.

Dave Scott is a salmon biologist with a focus on understanding juvenile salmon life histories to facilitate better restoration planning. Dave is currently a PhD student in the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory at the University of British Columbia where he studies under highly renowned salmon researcher Dr. Scott Hinch. Dave’s PhD research focuses on understanding juvenile Chinook estuary reliance through field research capturing out migrating juvenile salmon in the Fraser River estuary along with laboratory studies conducted at UBC. Dave also leads Raincoast’s Fraser Estuary Connectivity Project which has created three large breaches in the Steveston Jetty, reconnecting the river to its delta after over 100 years. As part of his research Dave also leads our effectiveness monitoring which has demonstrated the movement of juvenile salmon through the newly created breaches along with measuring changes in the distribution of freshwater and sediments and changes in vegetation.

Dr. Allison Dennert conducts scientific research and applied conservation initiatives to advance ecologically sustainable salmon management in BC and support the recovery of at-risk populations. She completed her Doctorate in Biology at Simon Fraser University in the Earth2Ocean Research Group. Her research examines the role of nutrients from spawning Pacific salmon in terrestrial ecosystems, and she is passionate about coastal wildflowers and their pollinators. As a part of her doctoral work she spent several years living and working in Haíɫzaqv Territory in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, boating to salmon watersheds. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia in Biology, with a specialization in Marine Biology.

Additional resources:

• Eco labelling programs for eating salmon responsibly
  • OceanWise
  • Marine Stewardship Counsel
  • Where can you source BC fish
    • Authentic indigenous Seafood
• Alison’s paper, the relationship between salmon and plants
  • https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221008
• Stillcreek Streamkeepers
• The great salmon sendoff
• Coho Festival

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

We’re back with a brand new season of Raincoast Radio! In the upcoming episodes, we’ll focus on the icon of the west coast, an essential life force that has spawned entire cultures and reminds us just how interconnected everything is: pacific salmon. Hosted by Raincoast salmon habitat biologist Auston Chhor, More than a fish plunges into questions surrounding this complex species, speaking with people from a variety of backgrounds working towards a better future for them. Whether you’re an expert, or simply wanting to dip your toe into their underwater world — we can all learn something from salmon.

So, what makes salmon more than a fish? Let’s dive in — Raincoast Radio, new episodes coming soon.

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

We’re back with a brand new season of Raincoast Radio! In the upcoming episodes, we’ll focus on the icon of the west coast, an essential life force that has spawned entire cultures and reminds us just how interconnected everything is: pacific salmon. Hosted by Raincoast salmon habitat biologist Auston Chhor, More than a fish plunges into questions surrounding this complex species, speaking with people from a variety of backgrounds working towards a better future for them. Whether you’re an expert, or simply wanting to dip your toe into their underwater world — we can all learn something from salmon.

So, what makes salmon more than a fish? Let’s dive in — Raincoast Radio, new episodes coming soon.

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org

In this episode, large carnivore expert and Raincoast Senior Scientist Dr. Paul Paquet recounts some of his most impactful and memorable experiences from over 50 years of studying wolves around the world. From Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and the Carpathian mountains in Europe to Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and the Canadian Rockies, Paul was drawn to wherever wolves roamed. This included his time in northern Alaska with wolf researcher Bob Stevenson and author Barry Lopez, during the period when Lopez was writing Of Wolves and Men.

Paul reflects on the profound impact the women featured in this series have had on both his life and his understanding of wolves. He shares the inspiration behind curating the Of wolves and women series, emphasizing how important it was to recognize these women for their remarkable contributions in a truly special way. After speaking with Paul, it became evident just how humble these women are about their achievements, despite the lasting impact they’ve had — and continue to have — on the field of wolf research and conservation.

Finally, we discuss the core principles and values that have guided, and continue to guide, Raincoast’s work — emphasizing the importance of preserving scientific integrity, upholding ethical and moral frameworks in decision-making, and cultivating authentic, enduring relationships with Indigenous governments and communities.

Paul Paquet is a senior scientist with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and an Adjunct Associate professor at the University of Victoria in the Department of Geography where he works closely with the Raincoast Applied Conservation Science Lab. As a world authority in conservation science, Paul has more than 50 years of scholarly and applied research experience. His research includes terrestrial mammals, marine mammals and birds, wildlife diseases, and genetics. He is recognized internationally as an expert on the ecology, behaviour and management of mammalian carnivores, especially wolves and bears. His studies span North America, Europe, Mid-East, and the Pacific Ocean.

Paul’s research focuses on the interface between ecological theory and conservation, science and policy, and environmental ethics. He has spent decades covering subjects ranging from the worldwide decline of large carnivores to the philosophical relationship of ethics, animal welfare, and conservation; co-authoring more than 200 scholarly articles and co-editing several books addressing ecology, conservation, and environmental ethics.

Dr. Paquet holds graduate degrees in philosophy, wildlife management and conservation, biology, and a PhD in zoology from University of Alberta. Academic appointments include Adjunct Professor of Biology and Associate Professor of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary, Adjunct Professor at University of Saskatchewan College of Veterinary Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Zoology at University of Manitoba, and Faculty Associate at Guelph University and University of New Brunswick.

Paul serves on science advisory committees for Environment Canada, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Caribou Scientific Advisory Committee for Saskatchewan, WWF International, the European Union, and several Species Survival Commissions (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Additional resources:

• Books and symphonies mentioned
  • Of Wolves and Men (1978) by Barry Lopez
  • White Fang (1906) by Jack London
  • The Call of the Wild (1903) by Jack London
  • The Jungle Book (1894) by Rudyard Kipling
  • Peter and the Wolf (1936) by Sergei Prokofiev
• Remembering Chester “Lone Wolf” Starr
• Learn more about our Wolf Conservation Program

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Chelsea Greer and produced by Sofia Osborne, with additional audio editing by Oumar Salifou. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org.

In this episode, Wolf Conservation Program Director and podcast host Chelsea Greer reflects on her early fascination with the human-animal bond and how her post-secondary education transformed her perspective on what truly benefits wildlife. She discusses how exploring alternative paradigms to traditional conservation and animal welfare science sparked her curiosity about applying animal welfare principles to wildlife and developing creative coexistence strategies.

From studying elephants in Thailand to protecting wolves in British Columbia, Chelsea shares how her time as a graduate student in the Canid Conservation Science Lab at the University of Calgary deepened her understanding of the challenges facing wolves and coyotes in North America, ultimately leading her to Raincoast to help develop the Wolf Conservation Program. Working as a biologist and wolf researcher within the program, Chelsea also recounts her first encounter with a wolf in the wild, reflecting on the layers of meaning behind the experience and the actions it inspired.

Guided by the inextricable link of science and ethics, Chelsea emphasizes how Raincoast’s approach to wildlife conservation continues to be grounded in doing the most good and the least harm to people, animals, and the environment. We delve into the importance of wolves and wolf conservation, highlighting not only the profound role wolves play in ecosystems, but also the cultural and intrinsic value they hold both as a species and as individuals.

Finally, Chelsea reflects on what she has learned from interviewing this remarkable group of women and what studying wolves has taught her about herself.

Chelsea Greer is the director of the Wolf Conservation Program at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. The focus of her work is to support the protection and conservation of wolves in British Columbia through peer-reviewed research, community partnerships, public education, and wildlife management reform. This includes scientific and ethics-driven initiatives that are working toward the implementation of provincial policy that respects the welfare of wolves and their important role in functioning ecosystems.

Chelsea is particularly interested in the welfare concerns that arise from the lethal management of predators and is an advocate for animal welfare in scientific research. Her research interests also include better understanding predator-prey dynamics in salmon-bearing watersheds and the role wolves play in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience.

Chelsea completed her master’s degree in Geography at the University of Calgary where she studied the behavioural ecology of rewilded Asian elephants in northern Thailand. Her graduate research used a compassionate model of conservation to investigate the rehabilitative and ecological requisites of elephants transitioning from captive to free-living settings. Chelsea also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia where she majored in Applied Animal Biology. It was during this degree that she developed a keen interest in animal ethics and how animal welfare science applies to free-living wild populations.

Additional resources:

• Other series hosted and curated by Chelsea Greer
  • Wolf School
  • Wolf Stories
  • More podcast episodes
• Remembering Gudrun “Gudy” Pflüger
• Learn more about our Wolf Conservation Program

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Chelsea Greer and produced by Sofia Osborne, with additional audio editing by Oumar Salifou. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org.