- Thread Starter
- #41
YEP I been reading some stuff too obvious some people freak out and others are not worried about it lol only time will tell the good news is the fishing should be good for s few daysKind of an interesting read from the state website. Looks as though the released Atlantic Salmon functions like a welfare mother once out in the wild. Its unable to feed itself...
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) - Aquatic Invasive Species | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Review of exiting biological data suggests that escaped Atlantic salmon do not pose significant risk to native fish populations, however, the biological impacts from the recent (1996, 1997, 1999) escapes in Washington are still being evaluated. The large escapes coupled with the findings of naturally-produced Atlantic salmon juveniles on Vancouver Island in 1998 and 1999 are cause for WDFW to continue to be focused on this issue.
- Competition - Evidence indicates non-native species do not compete well against native fish species; only a small percentage of Atlantic salmon recovered from marine waters have preyed on fish; there have been no observations of Atlantic's eating fish or fish eggs in fresh water. Atlantic salmon which have escaped from net pens near Vancouver Island, British Columbia, have successfully reproduced in three rivers. Their offspring rearing in those river were able to survive for at least a year after hatching. It is unknown if their was presence was detrimental to the wild fish stocks.
- Predation - There is no evidence of predation by Atlantic salmon in fresh water, and only limited evidence in salt water. Most (>94%) of escaped Atlantic salmon examined have had empty stomachs.
- Disease transfer - Consideration was given to the transfer of fish pathogens from captive and escaped Atlantic salmon to native salmon stocks. There is no evidence which indicates disease transfer from Atlantic salmon to native Pacific salmon. Fish pathogens infecting Atlantic salmon are endemic to Washington and appear to come from native fish stocks, both salmonids and non-salmonids.
- Hybridization - The risk of escaped Atlantic salmon hybridizing with native salmonids is low. Research has demonstrated it is very difficult, even under optimal laboratory conditions, to cross-breed between Pacific and Atlantic salmon and produce viable offspring. Should this rare event occur in the wild, the offspring would be functionally sterile and incapable of reproduction.
- Colonization - Evidence suggests this is an unlikely event; attempts to establish Atlantic salmon outside the Atlantic Ocean have failed; accidental releases of juvenile Atlantic's have not produced adults; intentional releases of Atlantic salmon smolts by WDFW failed to produce adults; evidence on Vancouver Island indicates escaped Atlantic salmon successfully produced juvenile Atlantic salmon, however, there is no evidence that these "wild" Atlantic salmon have returned to their natal stream and successfully spawned. Though juvenile Atlantic salmon have been found in three streams, they are not considered to be "established" in British Columbia. In total, Atlantic salmon which have escaped from pens have been observed in approximately 77 streams/rivers in British Columbia and 12 streams in Washington State. To date, no naturally-produced juvenile or adult Atlantic salmon have been found in Washington, in spite of extensive monitoring of outmigrating Pacific salmon smolts in the streams and rivers of the state.
