Warmer Water Temps Cool Hopes For Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Run

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Federal fisheries scientists say changing water temperatures in the northern Pacific Ocean may be responsible for lower-than-forecast numbers of sockeye salmon entering the Fraser River so far this year.

Paul Ryall, leader of the salmon team for fisheries management in the Pacific region, told a Vancouver news conference Monday it could be another week before scientists are prepared to say if the summer run is strong enough to bear the pressure of commercial fishing.

"Fish are later in migration this year to date, and we think that's a combination of the environmental conditions that we have had with warm temperatures," Ryall said. Ocean temperature studies in the north Pacific going back to 2002 -- the year before the current run of sockeye entered the ocean -- show substantial changes in subsequent years. Many of the changes are increases, some as much as several degrees on an average surface temperature of 13 C to 14 C. Warming reduces the amount of nutrients available to fish.

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Sockeye returns across B.C. and Washington state have been either lower than forecast or lower than previous averages, causing concern to commercial, recreational and first nations fisheries, particularly in the Fraser River. The early Stuart run, the first of the year, is estimated at 210,000 fish, down from a forecast of 258,000, and dramatically down from an average of 882,000. It was also 10 days later than expected. The estimated early summer return of 250,000, although down only slightly from its average of 283,000, is well off fisheries estimates of 718,000.

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http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=6c0d62da-822d-481d-bcf9-8f07b91f76ce