Scientists Say Salmon Collapse Due To Change In Currents, Resulting Absence Of Food

[hatrack]

Federal fish scientists say the dramatic falloff in salmon numbers expected this year should come as no surprise, because it probably was caused by a 2005 collapse in ocean conditions that left the seas empty of food and seabirds dying.

"Nobody should be surprised by this, but everybody is," said Bill Peterson, an oceanographer with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Newport.

The conditions in 2005 were brought on by unusual warmth. That delayed upwelling of nutrients from the deep ocean, so there was little to support the usual prolific marine food chain along the Oregon coast. That meant that young salmon headed to sea that year when there wasn't much for them to eat.

Biologists have detailed their views in a new memo to top NOAA officials. Salmon returns are expected to be sharply lower this year, especially in California's Sacramento River. Because Sacramento River salmon make up a large portion of the fish caught off Oregon, it's likely that salmon fishing will be severely restricted this year to protect what few of those fish remain.

EDIT

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1204597520203190.xml&coll=7

[hunter]

1. This is horrible news.

And likely such events will become common.

As humans we will suffer similar catastrophes.

We have to eat too.

[pscot]

2. Theres a simple formula for allocating the fish

The tribes get half, the long-liners and purse seiners get half, another half are allowed to get through to replenish the runs, and half of what's left goes to the sport fishery, and the other half are eaten by Orcas and sea lions. This has worked really well in the past, which is why recent runs have been so healthy.