Canada Sockeye salmon

sockeye salmon jumping on beaver dam, aleknagik lake, alaska, united states

the conservation status of sockeye populations in canada under review fisheries , oceans canada part of wild salmon policy strategy standardize monitoring of wild salmon status. salmon runs of particular note skeena , nass river runs, , famous fraser river sockeye run.

the fraser river salmon run has experienced declines in productivity since 1990s, mirroring similar decline in 1960s.

the return abundance (population) of fraser river sockeye in 2009 estimated @ low 1,370,000, 13% of pre-season forecast of 10,488,000. represented decline recent (1993) historical cycle peak of 23,631,000 , return abundance lowest in on 50 years. reasons (former) decline remain speculative. according consortium of scientists assembled review problem, decline highlights uncertainty in forecasting salmon returns. after low returns, government of canada launched formal inquiry decline, commission of inquiry decline of sockeye salmon in fraser river.

the commission has been tasked investigating factors may affect fraser river sockeye salmon throughout life cycle. according terms of reference, subjects of investigation impact of environmental changes along fraser river, marine environmental conditions, aquaculture, predators, diseases, water temperature , other factors may have affected ability of sockeye salmon reach traditional spawning grounds or reach ocean.

during commission, hundreds of thousands of documents , scientific research papers reviewed. twelve technical reports published using information, looking @ possible impacts of diseases , parasites, hatchery diseases, contaminants, marine ecology, salmon farms, fisheries, predators, climate change , government management on productivity of fraser river sockeye runs.

the commission submitted final report on october 29, 2012.

while commission holding public hearings, in late summer of 2010, largest run of sockeye since 1913 returned fraser river system. final counts show approximately 30 million salmon returned fraser river , tributaries in 2010. in total, approximately 11,591,000 fraser sockeye caught canadian fishers , 1,974,000 fraser sockeye caught american fishers. final projected escapement (fish not caught) 15,852,990 fish.

recent unpredictable fluctuations in runs speculated due changing water temperatures.