Fraser River sockeye salmon: data synthesis and cumulative impacts

Quantitative analysis will use integrative metrics to synthesize the data from each researchgroup. These data should be independent, annual and stock-specific. It will be very difficult to doone single integrative analysis that incorporates all variables into a single framework, especiallydue to data limitations, including gaps within the data, limited length of record, data only forcurrent status rather than over time, and the complete lack of any data on some components.Instead, multiple models will be tested using straightforward statistical approaches.During the workshop, participants were given a draft conceptual model and asked to contributetheir ideas. One of the key recommendations was to simplify the model.Key issues raised by workshop participants:o Using longer time series with only fair quality data may be more informative thanusing shorter time series with more complete datao Using expert opinion ratings to fill data gaps is a good ideao This task seems very complex – there is little evidence for cumulativeinteractions, but perhaps more for the relative importance of different factorso Remember that it’s okay to say “we don’t know the answer”