Salmon: A crucible for translational ecology in the Pacific Northwest

Background/Question/Methods

While developing an edited book regarding the future of wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest (Lackey, Lach, and Duncan 2006), authors confessed that the assignment was stressful and difficult.  Concerns were raised by scientists who chose not to participate in the project about the legitimacy of some of the participating authors. And, we were warned by academic and agency colleagues that we had embarked on a politically perilous project.  Why the fuss?  Why the angst?  Was it due to the two constraints we imposed on authors as they thought about what it will take to ensure a thriving population of wild salmon:  thinking 100 years into the future and considering human population growth in California and the PNW?  At the end of the process, when all the chapters were in and edited, we interviewed 26 of the 30 authors to try and understand the social uneasiness brought on by the assignment. 

Results/Conclusions:  Every author believed that society is on a deeply misguided track in the way we think about salmon restoration and, more importantly, that the critical challenges facing us require a transformation in the way we study, understand, and ultimately manage coupled human and natural systems.    Three strong themes emerged among the authors: (1) we need to change our current modes of thinking to reflect the complex adaptive systems in which salmon and humans co-exist; (2) we need to rethink and probably reinvent the role of science and scientists in natural resource decision making; and (3) we need to understand and mitigate the power imbalances that affect salmon (and other natural resource) decision processes.  This presentation provides an overview of the Salmon 2100 process, the engagement with authors about their experiences, and suggests some ways forward for ecologists to engage in translational science that addresses the wicked problems of salmon restoration in the Pacific Northwest.  

Lackey, Robert, Denise Lach, and Sally Duncan.  2006.  Salmon 2100: The Future of Wild Pacific Salmon.  Bethesda, MD: American Fisheries Society.