Spring Break
Northwest salmon shortage affects OSU researchers
Fish decline may be caused by sea lions, over-fishing, history of Pacific Ocean conditions
Melissa Peterson
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
A projected salmon shortage is leaving OSU research designed to protect weak salmon stocks in trouble.
During their research, OSU scientists found they could trace genetic markers of salmon caught in the ocean and within 24 hours, pinpoint an individual salmon's river basin of origin.
This research will help determine where the fish are coming from. However, OSU researchers will not be able to complete their research if they are not allowed to catch any salmon.
Scientists are saying that there are about 46 possible causes for the decline in salmon population. Some of those causes are predators such as sea lions and coastal birds that are preying on the juvenile salmon.
Sea lions are being trapped and removed from the Bonneville Dam where they are killing young salmon. There was previously an ordinance allowing the killing of sea lions, but right now that is on hold while a judge reviews the case.
Robin Brown, Oregon's marine mammal expert, says that the dam is an unnatural situation for the fish, and the sea lions are taking advantage of that.
Another factor is over-fishing by commercial and sport fishing.
Fishing on the Willamette River has been closed due to the extremely low estimate of returning salmon.
Ocean conditions collapsed in 2005 due to a delay in ocean upwelling.
Bill Peterson, a fisheries biologist with NOAA who is based at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center, links the recent decline in salmon back to the 2005 collapse.
Peterson said that the impact of ocean conditions, such as the collapse a few years ago, is not seen until the fish return as adults several years later.
The research being done by OSU aims to learn more about salmon distribution, migration and behavior in the Pacific Ocean.
This research will hopefully help to determine ways for the salmon to spawn and migrate more efficiently and pinpoint any problems that they are facing right now.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Seattle this week and will likely vote to impose the most severe restrictions ever on West Coast salmon fishing to protect the declining chinook stocks.
Also, if the ocean is closed to all fishing activities, that will include catch and release fishing.
Melissa Peterson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
During their research, OSU scientists found they could trace genetic markers of salmon caught in the ocean and within 24 hours, pinpoint an individual salmon's river basin of origin.
This research will help determine where the fish are coming from. However, OSU researchers will not be able to complete their research if they are not allowed to catch any salmon.
Scientists are saying that there are about 46 possible causes for the decline in salmon population. Some of those causes are predators such as sea lions and coastal birds that are preying on the juvenile salmon.
Sea lions are being trapped and removed from the Bonneville Dam where they are killing young salmon. There was previously an ordinance allowing the killing of sea lions, but right now that is on hold while a judge reviews the case.
Robin Brown, Oregon's marine mammal expert, says that the dam is an unnatural situation for the fish, and the sea lions are taking advantage of that.
Another factor is over-fishing by commercial and sport fishing.
Fishing on the Willamette River has been closed due to the extremely low estimate of returning salmon.
Ocean conditions collapsed in 2005 due to a delay in ocean upwelling.
Bill Peterson, a fisheries biologist with NOAA who is based at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center, links the recent decline in salmon back to the 2005 collapse.
Peterson said that the impact of ocean conditions, such as the collapse a few years ago, is not seen until the fish return as adults several years later.
The research being done by OSU aims to learn more about salmon distribution, migration and behavior in the Pacific Ocean.
This research will hopefully help to determine ways for the salmon to spawn and migrate more efficiently and pinpoint any problems that they are facing right now.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Seattle this week and will likely vote to impose the most severe restrictions ever on West Coast salmon fishing to protect the declining chinook stocks.
Also, if the ocean is closed to all fishing activities, that will include catch and release fishing.
Melissa Peterson, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Comments by registered users are approved by default.