Raincoast Radio

• The journey upstream as a student with Arielle Koenig, Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab

  We’ve heard from experienced professionals with years of experience, but what about the next generation of those wading the rivers and asking the research questions? In the previous episode of “More than a fish”, we dove into early career exploration in biology and conservation, and Jason Hwang provided some enlightening insight into what those flipping through resumes may look for. But we want this season to be as widespread and all-encompassing as the animal that inspired it — Pacific salmon — so if you’re a student, or considering graduate school, we hope this episode will serve as a useful reference.Auston Chhor welcomes Arielle Koenig, a master’s student at the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab at the University of British Columbia, with her research focusing on flood plain habitats, fish passage, and invasive species. Before venturing into this graduate degree, Arielle worked as a field biologist at Pearson Ecological working in the lower Fraser, where she and Auston crossed paths (or more accurately, crossed streams). When entering your master’s, it’s common to have a lot more questions than solely the one your work will center around: Is there a right time? How is financial stability even an option? What will a typical day look like? Wait, you mean YOU’RE in charge now? For Arielle, her thesis explores overwintering fish growth and survival, specifically juvenile coho, in flood plain habitats situated near different types of flood gate structures. Basically, Arielle is looking at how young coho in their first one to two years of life use their habitat, and how they do during this time before heading to the ocean. Beyond her research, the conversation flows into unexpected challenges of fieldwork, relationships with supervisors, and being exposed to the sociology side of biology as someone studying species as culturally centric as salmon. 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.orgAdditional resourcesPacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation LabPearson EcologicalFlood gate animation (shown at 1:25)

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• Careers in conservation with Jason Hwang, Pacific Salmon Foundation

  Are you a student or someone wanting to break into the environmental career sector? A 20- or 30-something grappling with the question of getting your master’s? This is the episode for you!In this installment of “More than a fish”, host Auston Chhor sits down with Jason Hwang, Chief Program Officer and Vice President Salmon with Pacific Salmon Foundation. He is also joining the selection committee for the 2025 Raincoast Ocean Science Awards, happening on November 20th at the Vancouver Aquarium. Jason began as a habitat biologist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the BC Interior North region. Growing up in North Delta, he spent his weekends fishing and was naturally drawn to what was under the water’s surface. Now, he oversees and supports all PSF salmon initiatives, working with First Nations, crown government agencies, other NGOs, academia, and industry. As Jason states early on in the conversation, he knows just as well as anyone else working in this realm that there is no “career in conservation for dummies” handbook. As someone who sifts through many resumes from hundreds of applicants, Auston asks what Jason looks for in potential hires. The response may not be what you expect … i.e., it’s not necessarily a MSc next to your name.“Say I’m talking to you and your twin brother, and your twin brother went and got his master’s, and you spent two years carrying an electrofisher up through devil’s club streams in the middle of the North doing fish salvage for a pipeline… I start to ask you ‘How would you mitigate the effects of a road or a pipeline and maintain conservation priorities for natural resources?’… you are going to have a lot of hands-on knowledge to actually do something.”Jason shares what stands out to him, and how getting a role in an environment that is solely academically oriented is like making the NHL … but the other roles are there for those who can find a way to take what they’ve learned in science and academic training and combine it with applied, real-world experience. This is a marketable skill that generally isn’t taught in a university classroom.The reality? This career space isn’t black and white — it’s not academia versus industry, good versus evil. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, challenge common paths, and approach your next move with curiosity over rigidity.Additional resources:Career opportunities with PSFConservation Careers job boardInterview with Jason for the Raincoast Ocean Science AwardsSubscribe to Raincoast’s newsletter to be the first to hear about job opportunities!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

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• Enriching relationships with watersheds and people, with Redd Fish Restoration Society’s Jessica Hutchinson

  You’ve heard the saying before: “let nature do its thing.” But if someone kicked the crap out of your friend, would you step back to let them heal? Or rush them to a hospital? And if they were bleeding, would a bandage suffice? Or would you want to find the source?This may seem like a far cry from the subject of salmon, but it’s not — this is exactly what process restoration is, and a big part of guest Jessica Hutchinson’s work. Jessica is a restoration biologist and Executive Director of Redd Fish Restoration Society, a registered charity that has worked with permission and in partnership with the nuučaanuł Nations in their ḥaḥuułi (territory) for over 30 years. Using science, technology, and Indigenous knowledge, Redd Fish works to restore damaged ecosystems, rebuild wild salmon stocks, and inspire an ethic of stewardship. Plus they produce some really cool videos.Host Auston Chhor chats with Jessica about her journey to Redd Fish, how a summer Tofino trip turned permanent, and what the name of the organization means. The two then go on to discuss the organization’s approach to healing watersheds — if you’ve listened to previous episodes of “More than a fish” you’ll know the interconnection of salmon to BC’s landscapes is boundless, so it’s not surprising that a holistic approach to their recovery is necessary. What are the root causes of degradation? “Maybe we shouldn’t even use the term restoration, because it implies we can actually take it back to something it was before, and that’s probably not true. It’s about accelerating recovery and stewardship, and investing in these watersheds for the long-term.”Can restoration be forward-facing?Additional resources:Redd Fish Restoration SocietyKelp forest work in Clayoquot or Barkley SoundRedd Fish’s amazing merchRaincoast 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

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• Communicating the “why care?”, the importance of listening and community empowerment with Tom Rutherford

  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 BoardTom’s home waters: Kelvin Creek Watershed, a small tributary of the KoksilahThe 2003 Chinook Crisis in the Cowichan RiverPoisonous shellfish warnings on Vancouver IslandWatershed superheroes, Water WomanMr. Floatie, Victoria’s dancing piece of poop to advocate for water treatmentChinook Shimmy, Cowichan Watershed Board’s dancing salmon2023 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

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• How crises lead to connection with Murray Ned, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

  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 NedAuston 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 NationsFraser River Sockeye collapse of 2009The Abbotsford Flood 2021Q&A with Murray Ned; Fraser Valley CurrentLearn more about this season’s host, Auston ChhorLearn more about Raincoast’s wild salmon programRaincoast 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

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