Hindcasting the Salish Sea

Recorded Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

Presentation by Greig Oldford, Section Head, DFO

What can we learn from ocean-ecosystem simulations of the Salish Sea?
The Salish Sea is changing – but understanding how and why requires looking beneath the surface. In this talk, Greig Oldford will introduce how ocean computer models, including the NEMO-HOTSSea model, can help reconstruct past ocean conditions such as temperature, currents, and mixing. He will then show how these physical changes connect to zooplankton – the tiny drifting animals that form a critical link between plankton and fish, including salmon. Using recent modelling work in the Strait of Georgia, the talk will explore how long-term ocean data can help us understand shifting marine food webs and better anticipate ecological change.

About Greg Oldford

Greig Oldford is a marine ecosystem scientist focused on understanding how ocean conditions shape food webs, fish populations, and the future of coastal ecosystems. He leads integrated ecosystem modelling work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is completing a PhD at the University of British Columbia, where his research links ocean physics, plankton dynamics, and fish ecology in the Salish Sea. His work uses computer models, long-term monitoring data, and ecological theory to reconstruct how marine ecosystems have changed over decades and to help inform better decisions for fisheries, conservation, and ocean management. Passionate about making complex science useful and understandable, Greig works at the intersection of research, policy, and public communication to help communities see the ocean as a connected, living system.

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