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Anomalous Ocean Conditions May Explain the Recent Extreme Variability in Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Production

Authors :
Terry D. Beacham
Marc Trudel
Richard E. Thomson
Paul H. Whitfield
Richard J. Beamish
Roy A. S. Hourston
Source :
Marine and Coastal Fisheries. 4:415-437
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
Wiley, 2012.

Abstract

Record low returns of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka to the Fraser River in 2009 were followed by record high returns to the river in 2010, providing an unprecedented opportunity to examine links between oceanic factors and the survival of Pacific salmon stocks. The low returns in 2009 indicated poor early marine survival of juvenile sockeye salmon in 2007. The poor survival was likely due to low food levels arising from unfavorable wind and runoff conditions in the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Sound–Hecate Strait region in the spring of 2007. Conversely, the high returns in 2010 were associated with a large smolt output from the Fraser River and good early marine survival in 2008. This enhanced survival was likely associated with adequate food levels arising from favorable oceanic conditions in the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Sound–Hecate Strait region in the spring of 2008. We speculate that ocean factors during the subsequent marine years also affected brood year ...

Details

ISSN :
19425120
Volume :
4
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Marine and Coastal Fisheries
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........1f27e6f066871a3cc5bc5cd839ecefe3
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2012.675985