Pink Salmon and their Profound Impact on Ocean Ecology
A Little Bit Wonky and a Little Bit Rock and Roll
One important way that The Osprey stands out from other conservation publications is how it balances active conservation advocacy for wild steelhead and salmon, and their habitat, along with a dedication to presenting our readers with the latest and best science that gives us the information needed to more effectively press the powers-that-be for changes that will help our wild fish survive into the future. On some occasions, it’s time to stand up and tell truth to power.
At other times, presenting the cold, hard, irrefutable facts to fish managers and government agencies is the most powerful approach.
In this issue of The Osprey, we have gone to the “wonky” side. We all know by now, probably by heart, the negative impacts hatchery fish have on wild fish — genetic changes, less fitness, etc. — along with the seemingly endless production of hatchery studies as the hatchery-industrial complex continues to perk along, business as usual for the most part. What’s going on with all that?
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
• WILD STEELHEAD, SALMON AND THE SEA
• SEA RUN CUTTHROAT TROUT
• WHAT 207 HATCHERY STUDIES HAVE TO SAY
• STEELHEAD PROPAGATION AND EPIGENETICS
So, we called upon some Pacific salmon and steelhead scientists — experts in their fields — to look into a few of those things for us based on their own scientific research and those of their colleagues. Does dumping large numbers of hatchery fish into the environment impact wild fish? How about entire ecosystems, as the huge amount of hatchery pink salmon do throughout the North Pacific Ocean, affecting not just salmon but an astounding number of other ocean creatures from orcas to seabirds and more.
And what about all those studies on how hatcheries do or do not adversely affect salmonids? Another article in this issue looks at those many studies to see what they really have to say, both individually and collectively.
And genetic changes? How about a sneaky, little-studied, under-the-DNA radar gremlin that might have significant impacts on fish behavior that could work its way into wild populations. That story is here, too.
The reading is a little bit more challenging in this issue of The Osprey, but we think it will be well worth your time and effort and will give you some real insights into hatchery-wild fish relationships that often stays in the background.