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Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Conservation Biology CB - Mathematical Biology and Systems Monitoring

Information

Project
Salmon Population Summary Database
Title
Salmon spawner abundance data compilation and database management
Description
The Northwest Fisheries Science Center's (NWFSC) Salmon Population Summary (SPS) database provides public access to demographic data compiled for ESA-listed salmonid populations as part of the NWFSC's technical recovery planning efforts. The database contains data collected by co-managers (WDFW, ODFW, IDFG, and Tribes) and compiled in cooperation with NWFSC staff for: spawning abundance, age structure of wild spawners, fraction of natural spawners that are of wild origin, and the reduction in spawning abundance due to harvest. For some populations, additional data fields are also available. The data correspond to the populations identified by the NMFS Technical Recovery Teams, and are used in part to assess population and ESU-level recovery criteria for many listed ESUs. Most importantly, this data is critical for informing 5 year ESA salmon reviews, and makes 5 year status review data available to the public.

Research Themes

Recovery and rebuilding of marine and coastal species
The Pacific Northwest is home to several iconic endangered species, including Pacific salmon and killer whales, and several rockfish species. Mandates such as the Endangered Species Act, MagnusonStevens Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, grant NOAA Fisheries the authority to manage the recovery of depleted species and stocks. The NWFSC contributes to species recovery through research, monitoring and analysis, providing NOAA managers and regional stakeholders the tools and information they need to craft effective regulations and develop sustainable plans for recovery.

Research Foci

Characterize the population biology of species, and develop and improve methods for predicting the status of populations
To evaluate species status and recovery, it is necessary to understand key aspects of the population biology of the species in question. This includes basic information on abundance, age structure, recruitment, spatial distribution, life history and how the species interacts with its ecosystem. For some recovering species, including most overfished groundfish stocks, many ESA-listed Pacific salmon stocks, and high profile species such as Southern Resident killer whales, this basic information is often reasonably well understood. For other recovering species, such as Pacific eulachon and some ESA-listed rockfish species, even basic information (e.g. stock abundance) is unknown. Even for well-studied species, key information on survival rates for critical life stages and how the environment affects these vital rates is lacking. Without basic information on species dynamics, achieving other goals such as quantifying relationships between human activities and species recovery or even knowing if species recovery goals are being met will not be successful. The NWFSC, in partnership with regional stakeholders, including states, tribes and industry, is conducting research to collect and monitor critical demographic information for recovering species.

Keywords

Abundance
Population level abundance data
ESA
regulatory law
abundance
the quantity or amount of something
salmon
all salmonids

Products

Ford, M. J. (Ed.) 2011. Status review update for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo., NMFS-NWFSC-113, 281 p.Go to metadata icon
Ford, M. J. (Ed.) 2011. Status review update for Pacific salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo., NMFS-NWFSC-113, 281 p.Go to metadata icon
Ford, M. J., K. Barnas, T. Cooney, L. G. Crozier, M. Diaz, J. J. Hard, E. E. Holmes, D. M. Holzer, R. G. Kope, P. W. Lawson, M. Liermann, J. M. Myers, M. Rowse, D. J. Teel, D. M. Van Doornik, T. C. Wainwright, L. A. Weitkamp, M. Williams. 2015. Status Review Update for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Listed under the Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. Nationa Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center.Go to metadata icon
Ford, M. J., K. Barnas, T. Cooney, L. G. Crozier, M. Diaz, J. J. Hard, E. E. Holmes, D. M. Holzer, R. G. Kope, P. W. Lawson, M. Liermann, J. M. Myers, M. Rowse, D. J. Teel, D. M. Van Doornik, T. C. Wainwright, L. A. Weitkamp, M. Williams. 2015. Status Review Update for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Listed under the Endangered Species Act: Pacific Northwest. Nationa Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center.Go to metadata icon
Salmon Population Summary Database
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Taxa

Species Oncorhynchus keta
chum salmon, dog salmon, Keta salmon
Species Oncorhynchus kisutch
Coho salmon, silver salmon
Species Oncorhynchus mykiss
rainbow trout, steelhead trout, syeelhead trout
Species Oncorhynchus nerka
kokanee, red salmon, sockeye salmon
Species Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon, king salmon, spring salmon

People

Chris Jordan
Co-Lead
Jeff Cowen
Internal Collaborator
Jeff Hard
Internal Collaborator
Jim Myers
Internal Collaborator
Katie Barnas Torpey
Co-Lead
Laurie Weitkamp
Internal Collaborator
Margaret Williams
Internal Collaborator
Martin Liermann
Internal Collaborator
Mike Ford
Co-Lead
Mindy Rowse
Internal Collaborator
Monica Diaz
Internal Collaborator