Advancing Trans-boundary Sea Duck Conservation Actions: Scoter Habitat Use and Movement Patterns in the Salish Sea

Project Number: 166

Year Funded: 2021

Lead Institution(s): Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Canadian Wildlife Service

Project Lead: Joe Evenson and Megan Ross

Email:

Collaborator(s): Kyle Spragens (Washington DFW), Sean Boyd (ECCC)

Location: Salish Sea

Focal Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)

Project Description: In order to influence and guide sea duck conservation planning and actions on landscape-level transboundary issues such as aquaculture, conflicting species management (e.g. salmonid habitat and food web enhancements, Pacific Herring management and status), environmental assessments (e.g. oil/gas/other shipping, coastal and port development) and to assess effects and response to oil spills, there is an increasing need to produce coherent and relevant species data. Recent advancements in implantable GPS-quality devices offer the ability to refine and target our knowledge towards identifying critical habitat features and time periods for Surf Scoters in the Salish Sea.

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