Salmon Ecosystems and Indigenous Knowledge

Dr. Peter Westley serves as the Lowell A. Wakefield Chair in Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, where his lifelong passion for salmon ecosystems drives his innovative research on fish adaptation to environmental change. Through his leadership of the Salmonid Evolutionary Ecology & Conservation Lab, he investigates crucial issues including salmon migration patterns, homing behavior, the effects of warming rivers on salmon populations, and the complex interactions between hatchery and wild salmon. His research has provided vital insights into how salmon are responding to climate change, including their northward movement into Arctic rivers as southern waters become too warm. As a member of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force, he contributes to developing comprehensive strategies for salmon conservation and sustainable management, while his work uniquely bridges the gap between evolutionary ecology and practical conservation, addressing both the biological aspects of salmon adaptation and the essential connections between salmon and human communities. His approach combines rigorous scientific research with a deep understanding of the cultural and economic importance of salmon to Alaskan communities, making him a leading voice in salmon conservation and management.