Chelsea Boaler
Student in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
LAON: fb.me/LabradorAON
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Hello!
My name is Chelsea Boaler and I am a PhD Student in the Fisheries Science program at the Marine Institute (Memorial University). My research focuses on the integration of Indigenous (IK) and Non-Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (NIEK) with Western Science concerning capelin populations in Quebec Lower North Shore and Labrador regions.
Please feel free to reach out if you would like to learn more about this project that incorporates efforts from over 20 partners, or if you have overlapping research interests and would like to connect.
Stay tuned for more information my thesis work develops over the coming months!
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RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.1 How has capelin spawning demonstrated temporal and spatial variability across Canadian North Atlantic waters?
1.2 Where are current beach and deep-water spawning areas within the study area?
1.3 What does IEK and NIEK tell us about capelin characteristics and dynamics?
2.1 What is the socio-cultural importance of capelin to the study area?
3.1 What is the current dialogue surrounding capelin management in Canadian waters, across stakeholders?
3.2 What are current international best practices surrounding capelin management and how can they be applied to Canadian waters?
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METHODS
1. Semi-structured interviews and participatory mapping
2. Observer network initiation
3. Inclusion of eDNA and acoustic information
4. Log book, genetic, and phenotype data syntheses
5. Case-study and management review
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This research will be crucial in further advancing our knowledge and improving the management of capelin stocks in Canadian North Atlantic waters; future work could include aiding acoustic surveying by identifying key habitats and providing information to ongoing management and planning such as Marine Protect Areas being considered by Indigenous communities in Labrador.
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PARTNERS and CONTRIBUTORS:
DFO-NL, DFO-QC, Duke University, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Co., Labrador Institute, NSERC, NL Department of Fishery, Forestry and Agrifoods, Nunatsiavut Government, NunatuKavut Community Council, Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Parks Canada (Torngat National Park), Resources Aquatiques Québec, Seguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, St. Lawrence Global Observatory, Torngat Fish Processors Co-operative, Torngat Wildlife Plant & Fisheries Secretariat, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Université Laval, University of Manitoba, WWF-Canada