Ocean Research & Conservation Society presents Save the Streams: Southern Vancouver Island Salmon

Salmon There are five species of Pacific salmon that die after spawning; Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink. Salmon return to their natal streams and rivers each year. Salmon travel thousands of miles and spend one to five years feeding in the ocean before returning to their birth streams. Spawning females dig out a gravel nests, called a redd. The males then fertilizes the eggs and the female protects the redd for one to two weeks. Alveins hatch and mature into fry, developing vertical bars for camouflage, called parr marks. After a period of feeding fry migrate downstream towards the ocean and grow into smolts adapting to their marine environment.

Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Spring, Salmon, King, Blackmouth, Quinnat, Chub, Tyee (14+kg) Chinooks have a greenish-blue dark back with long black spots red hue develops around the fins and belly male teeth are enlarged and they have a hooked snout Tyee reach 1.5 m and 58 kg, average 90 cm and 14 kg. Spawning peak, May to June and August to September.

Chum Oncorhynchus keta Dog Salmon Females are a metallic blue males have a checkerboard colouration, a dark horizontal stripe, and canine-like teeth. Average from 4.5 to 12 kg Spawning peak month, October

Coho Oncorhynchus kisutch Silver Salmon Spawning males are red on their sides, and a bright green on the back and head areas, with a darker colouration on the belly, and spots on upper tail fin lobe. They also develop a hooked jaw with sharp teeth. Females develop a lesser-hooked snout. reach 1 m and weigh up to 14 kg average between 3 to 5 kg. Spawning peak, July to August.

Sockeye Oncorhynchus nerka Kokanee, Red Salmon, Blueback Salmon Varying shades of red resulting in a brilliant scarlet fish with a green head. Grow to 83 cm weigh up to 7 kg Spawning peak month, August

Pink Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Humpies Pale grey males develop a hump up to 76 cm and to 5.5 kg average 1.5 to 2.5 kg Spawning peak month, October

Southern Vancouver Island: Salmon Spawning Streams and Rivers

Threats On top of natural dangers from predators dangers to salmon from human activities include: poor farming and forest practices pollution destruction of coastal wetlands and estuaries The territory of British Columbia salmon has been decimated for decades by industrial clearcut logging. Roots of trees anchor steep slopes. Logging increases the chances of landslides filling vital spawning grounds with mud, debris, and boulders. Shade from trees is lost increasing water temperatures. Other threats include: Overfishing, urbanization, hydroelectric dams, fish farms, and global warming

Actions Salmon play an important role sustaining forest ecology. Spawners bring vital nutrients from the ocean into the forest. Carcasses are dispersed by bears and eagles providing the trees with fertilizer; nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. Salmon feed the rivers helping the survival of young salmon. Farmed salmon does not replicate this vital role and is detrimental to wild stocks. Dangers from fish farms include: disease pollution (including contaminating shellfish) predation on young wild salmon escapement (Atlantic salmon compete for food and habitat with wild stocks) Conservation actions include: cleaning up salmon streams (ensuring clean and safe flowing environments) recycling using biodegradable and organic products choosing wild salmon over farmed

Summary Salmon – 5 species Chinook 48+kg, dorsal spots Chum 12+kg, male checkerboard Coho 5+kg, red sides, green back Sockeye 7+kg, red body, green head and tail Pink 3+kg, male hump Threats – farming, forestry, pollution, urbanization, global warming. Actions – stream cleaning, recycling, using biodegradable, organic, and choosing wild salmon. oceansociety.blogspot.com