Lousy sockeye are lousy competitors

Recently published research indicates that juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon that are highly infected with sea lice are 20 per cent less successful at consuming food than their lightly infected counterparts.

LINK (via:Phys.org)

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit to stop plans to shoot more than 10,000 double-crested cormorants in the Columbia River Estuary.

Bob Salinger of Audubon Society of Portland says killing the birds to stop them from eating millions of baby salmon is a diversion from the real threat — the hydroelectric dams that kill adult fish on their way to spawning grounds, and juveniles migrating to the ocean.

LINK

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/04/20/4251529_groups-sue-to-stop-plans-to-kill.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Hungry Sea Lions Pile Into The Columbia River

Photo: Theresa Tillson/Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

California sea lions are literally piling into Astoria’s East Mooring Basin. They’ve taken over every square foot of the boat docks, and they’re even lying on top of each other for lack of space.

The latest sea lion count in the marina tallied a record 2,340 – a “mind-boggling number,” according to Bryan Wright of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The big question now is how many sea lions will stay in the Columbia River and eat returning spring salmon?

(via: OPB)

Once more into the breach debate

Once a company man, Jim Waddell now finds himself challenging the agency he spent a career serving.

In so doing, he has established himself as a threat to those defending the four lower Snake River dams and a champion of breachers, who have adopted a new strategy that questions whether the massive costs associated with operating and maintaining the dams is money well spent.

LINK (via: Save our Wild Salmon)

Isn't it time you put your carcass to work?

At least 137 different species — from grizzly bears to gray wolves — depend on salmon for part of their diet. Even trees and plants benefit from the nutrients brought back by salmon from the seas.

LINK (via: Salmon Nation)

"They're eating over 6 percent of all the wild steelhead that are passing through the lower Columbia River"

Photo: MDF

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to kill 16,000 cormorants, which it says are eating too many salmon and steelhead trout.

This growing trend of killing some species to protect another is drawing opponents.

LINK  (via: National Geographic)