Research Interests

My research focuses on three areas: 1) the ecology of Pacific salmon and the use of these species to explore hypotheses about strategies for reproduction, energy allocation, and habitat choice in fishes; 2) the design of resource management systems for fish and aquatic resources generally; 3) the role of scientific information in policy development.

Pacific salmon provide excellent models to investigate life history strategies. The five species of Pacific salmon endemic to North America display an amazing variety of life history tactics, and the fact that each species exists as a large number of reproductively isolated populations provides a rich opportunity to explore how closely related organisms solve ecological problems. Since all species are anadromous, they also provide the opportunity to investigate both marine and freshwater aspects of aquatic science. Recently, my research has focused on the cumulative impacts of climate change on these species.

Policies and programs for management of fisheries and other renewable resources have changed dramatically over the past 50 years; from maximizing to optimizing yield; single species to multispecies and single use to multiuse approaches; from sectoral to integrated; from maximizing physical yield to maximizing economic return to maximizing social benefits. My research career has spanned much of this evolution and I have explored the implications of various approaches, particularly for fishery management but also for the management of aquatic resources in general. Most recently I have been engaged in understanding how one transitions from a water management regime that is focused on meeting economic needs for water to one that balances economic and environmental needs.

In natural resources management there is a mutual dependence between science and policy but also a long standing mutual antagonism. Scientists don’t often respond well to the needs of policy makers and policy makers often misunderstand or misinterpret what science can provide to policy decisions. The success of a resource management regime often depends on how well science can be integrated into the policy process. However, mechanisms for achieving this integration remain poorly developed. Adaptive management provides a set of tools for integrating science and policy effectively. For the past 20 years I have been engaged in promoting and assessing the application of these tools in ecological restoration and water resources management.

Biography

B.Sc. Hons. U.B.C. (1964); M.Sc. U.B.C. (1966); Ph.D. Aberdeen, Scotland (1969); Post Doctoral, Fisheries Research Board of Canada (Nanaimo, 1969-70); Research Scientist, Department of Environment, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg (1970-1974); Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo (1974-1990); Director, Westwater Research Centre, UBC, 1990-1995; Institute for Resources and Environment (later, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) 1996-2007; Department of Oceanography (later Earth and Ocean Sciences) 1990-2007; Fishery Centre 1991-2007. Sabbaticals, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1982-83), U.B.C. (1988-89); University of Rhode Island 1995-96 and 2002-03. Visiting faculty member, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, 2005-06; 2009-10. Lead Scientist, Calfed Bay Delta Program, California, 2007-08.