Raincoast Radio

• 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

  --------  

  57:18

  --------

  57:18
• 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

  --------  

  47:43

  --------

  47:43
• Bridging the gap between salmon scientists and anglers with Fishing with Rod

  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 HsuThe 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 HsuAdditional resources: Fishing with Rod YouTubeInstagramFacebookTikTokWebsiteVideo with Dave Scott: Reclaiming Fraser River Estuary for Juvenile Pacific Salmon | Fishing with RodKeep 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 systemRaincoast 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

  --------  

  58:59

  --------

  58:59
• Salmon 101 with Allison Dennert and Dave Scott

  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 OceanWiseMarine Stewardship CounselWhere can you source BC fish Authentic indigenous SeafoodAlison’s paper, the relationship between salmon and plantshttps://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.221008Stillcreek StreamkeepersThe great salmon sendoffCoho FestivalRaincoast 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

  --------  

  52:38

  --------

  52:38
• Introducing More than a fish

  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

  --------  

  1:03

  --------

  1:03

More Science podcasts

Trending Science podcasts

About Raincoast Radio