British Columbia¿s Skeena River is one of the great salmon rivers of the North Pacific. The river and its fish have supported indigenous peoples for thousands of years. More recently, the Skeena has earned world renown for its recreational fishery and magnificent wilderness setting. Yet, over the last century, fish populations have declined from overfishing, habitat alteration and, to an unknown degree, climate change. Development of mining as well as oil and gas resources may also pose threats to fish populations.This book presents the first thorough review of the salmon stocks and freshwater species of the Skeena River. Initial chapters summarize the river¿s environment, fish, and fisheries. The book then examines the physical geography, development history, indigenous use, and major salmon stocks of each of the watershed¿s sub-basins. This volume makes available for the first time¿to researchers, field biologists, fishermen and natural history enthusiasts¿both the published, and largely unpublished, literature on this productive salmon ecosystem.

"Eleven potential British Columbian and Washington State oil ports with accompanying route alternatives were compared on a relative ranking basis in terms of possible environmental risk from marine oil spills. Initially, a rating system of navigational risk, biological, economic and social factors was developed to derive a BIOLOGICAL RISK INDEX, and ECONOMIC RISK INDEX and a SOCIAL RISK INDEX. These indices were compared port/route to port/route by several ranking methods to determine the relatively "least risky" or "most risky" port/route alternatives. Consideration was given also to preventive, cleanup and compensatory measures relevant to oil spills. (Au)"--ASTIS [online] bibliography.

Presents detailed reports on preliminary environmental assessment of potential superport sites in Prince Rupert area of B.C. Two sections: technical report on biology of Skeena River Estuary and detailed report of studies focusing on terrestrial environment and intertidal zone.