By looking at past salmon populations in the Skeena Watershed in northern BC, Michael Price, SFU postdoctoral fellow, can estimate what the future holds for salmon populations in BC. Through his research, Price discovered that salmon populations in the Skeena River watershed have increased over the past century. Price and his team examined a “rich collection of fish scales” dating back to 1913. These preserved scales tell “the literal life stories of each fish,” including the estimated size of the fish and what it may have encountered in its life. What Price has found is that the juvenile sockeye salmon…
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On June 22, Joyce Murray, minister of fisheries, announced the government of Canada has created a transition planning process to phase out fish farms in BC. In their press release, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) explained the…
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SFU archaeology’s ancient DNA lab used their new palaeogenetic analytical techniques to confirm the sustainability and effectiveness of Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s pre-colonial fishing practices. The lab’s research confirms the Tsleil-Waututh Nation was sustainably managing chum salmon by only harvesting male salmon…
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SFU researchers have found changes in saltwater and freshwater ecosystems are decreasing the survival rates for North Pacific salmon species. PhD candidate Colin Bailey, a researcher on this project, spoke with The Peak about the group’s findings. Bailey explained there’s…
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SFU biology professor, Dr. John Reynolds has been inducted into the Royal Society of Canada which honours researchers for their achievements in their respective fields. “It's a nice recognition when I think of some wonderful Canadian scientists who are a…
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Climate change causes plant community to change in Arctic regions A study has found a relationship between the impact of climate change and the growth of new, taller plants in the Arctic and tundra regions. The research has also…
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Anonymizing faces without losing emotion A team of researchers, which includes those from SFU, are working to improve the way individuals are anonymized for television. Anonymizing faces in news broadcasts or documentaries usually involves pixelating, blurring, or blacking out…
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If you have ever been to a supermarket, chances are you have come across packaged salmon with the words “Farmed Atlantic Salmon” on it. Salmon farming, while quite common on the BC coast, has been at the centre of…
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What happened to Mars’ surface water? An international study co-led by Brendan Dyck, SFU researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences, suggests that a fair amount of surface water on Mars was absorbed into the crust of the planet. This…
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Methods used to protect cities and farmland from flooding in the province are having an adverse effect on salmon, according to new research. A report by researchers at Simon Fraser University found that dikes and floodgates can compromise salmon habitats…
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