"Their survival rate in the ocean is about one-half of one percent," he said. "So there's still a problem, but it's mainly because of whatever is happening to them in the ocean." This year, salmon populations along the west coast of the United States plummeted, prompting the federal government to close fisheries in California and much of Oregon. Congress approved $170 million in emergency funding to blunt the damage caused to commercial and sport fishing industries in the region. Ray Hilborn of the Unviersity of Washington ascribes much of the decline in salmon population to natural climate cycles like El Nino and La Nina, which can affect ocean temperatures throughout Pacific northwest. "Changes in water temperature can affect the distribution of predators," like the salmon shark, a close relative of the great white shark seals, and sea lions, Hilborn said. "Right now most of what we're seeing is probably not due to anthropogenic climate change," he said. "In a 100 years that could be a very different story." Related Links: |
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