Salmon Partnership hosts 7th Symposium

A high seas expert will give insight on potential marine threats to Cook Inlet Chinook and an Atlantic salmon expert will highlight salmon recovery at the 7^th annual Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium.

The meeting is Nov.18-19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Palmer Community Center (Depot), 610 S. Valley Way.

The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership hosts the event with a range of stakeholders to share current work on salmon and salmon habitat.

Kelly Hepler (Chair of the National Fish Habitat Partnership Board) will be presenting a national award to the Mat-Su Borough in recognition for extraordinary action in support of fish habitat conservation and for furthering the goals of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

The keynote speakers include: Dr. Kate Myers, an internationally recognized fisheries scientist recently retired from 30 years at the University of Washington’s High Seas Research Program. She received the 2014 North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission Award in recognition of her long-term leadership in scientific research and conservation. Myers will be talking about the life-history, ecology and potential threats to Mat-Su/Cook Inlet Chinook salmon in the marine environment.  

Mary Colligan worked for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Protected Resources Program in the Northeast Region for more than 20 years, and served as President of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) from 2010-2014. NASCO is an international organization established by an inter-governmental convention in 1984, whose objective is to conserve, restore, enhance and rationally manage Atlantic salmon through international cooperation. Colligan will be sharing a case study on Atlantic Salmon recovery through local and international level partnerships.

The 2014 agenda also includes more than 30 presenters, posters and panelists covering topics such as salmon research and management, mapping Mat-Su waters, climate change and resilience of salmon, habitat conservation and restoration, Susitna River salmon studies, invasive aquatic plants, pike and climate change.  

The Symposium is free and open to the public.