Save Our Saber-Tooth Salmon

A saber-tooth salmon as depicted by Ray Troll

The Saber-toothed Salmon of the Miocene to Pliocene (13 to 4 million years ago) of the Pacific Northwest, known as Oncorhynchus (Smilodonichthys) rastrosus to paleontologists, was exceptionally large for a salmon, measuring over 2 meters (6.5 feet) long! It is named for the large canine-like teeth in its upper jaw, presumably used for competition among males during spawning season, much like the hook that forms on modern male spawning sockeye salmon.

LINK (via:University of Oregon Museum of Natural History)

Now a 3D printer is helping preserve the fish.

We've Got Good News and Bad News

The Good News?

Surveys have found that overall, concentrations of arsenic, selenium, and mercury in Asian Carp from the lower Illinois River do not appear to be a health concern for a majority of human consumers.

The Bad News?

We've got Asian Carp.

LINK (The Fish Site)

Shrinking wild salmon starve at sea as North Atlantic warms

Researcher Chris Todd of the University of St. Andrews has been studying the changes in size and quality of salmon returning to Scottish rivers over the past 50 years. The results are a long term pattern of less well nourished salmon showing poor growth.

LINK (via: Caledonian Mercury)

If hatchery fish will just bite more often

Editorial comment courtesy of the Coen brothers.

LINK (via: Oregon Live)

Steelhead and salmon threatened by low water conditions on American River

Dan Bacher spells out imminent the threat to salmon and steelhead on the American River due to the record setting drought conditions in California.

LINK (via: The Daily Kos)

Did the Canadian Government Break the Law by Approving GM Salmon?

Environmental groups want a court to decide if the Canadian federal government violated its own law by permitting the manufacture of genetically modified salmon in Canada.

LINK (via:EcoWatch)