Marine biologists in British Columbia, Canada, have warned of declining salmon and shellfish populations caused by rising temperatures and heat waves in the Pacific Northwest. Experts warn that as human-caused climate change forces cold-water species to migrate north, many native species that B.C. prides itself on, such as salmon, mussels and clams, may soon see prices rise.
Instead, marine life prefers warm waters: humboldt squid, for example, whose native habitat extends from Tierra del Fuego in South America to California in the United States.
Salmon and shellfish populations in B.C. are decreasing
Salmon is one of the national treasures of the Canadian province of BC. Thanks to the proud natural resources of B.C., thousands of salmon and fish flocks migrate and multiply every year, and the scene is very spectacular, attracting countless tourists to punch in and take photos.
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But in the future there may be fewer and fewer opportunities to watch spectacular salmon migrations. In the fall of 2017, the Federal Commission on Endangered Wildlife in Canada found that eight populations of red salmon were declining in the Fraser River Basin, and the commission concluded that red salmon should be protected by laws on endangered species legislation.
Greg Taylor, a member of B.C.'s Watershed Watch Salmon Society, said rising water temperatures, water pollution and human fishing activities all have an impact on the survival of red salmon and there should be more restrictions on fishing.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has listed Sakinaw sockeye, Okanagan king salmon and some species of red salmon endemic to the Fraser River as endangered, and listed the Fraser River silver salmon and some species of red salmon as threatened species. The living conditions of the Monarch Salmon are being evaluated.
Christopher Harley, a marine biologist at UBC University, said the recent heat wave caused temperatures above 50°C in rocky areas of the seabed and coast. He estimates that the heat wave has killed more than 1 billion marine animals along the Pacific coast, including mussels, barnacles, seaweed and anemones.
Aboriginal peoples gave up fishing to protect salmon stocks
In terms of social impact, Canada's First Nations Aboriginals are bearing the brunt of the negative impact of declining salmon populations.
Andrea Reid, principal investigator at the Bc Aboriginal Fisheries Centre, said Indigenous fishermen and elders in BC have been monitoring salmon migration for decades and are very worried about the future of salmon.
For many Native Americans, salmon is not only food, but also a vital cultural species, and for thousands of years their language, laws, religious rituals, and trade have been closely related to salmon. In fact, the name of the Nisga Aboriginal community to which Reed belongs is the "Salmon Clan".
According to a study conducted by Reid, indigenous old fishermen who have been harvesting salmon for 50 to 70 years found that salmon populations decreased by 83 percent compared to historical numbers. This trend is also reflected in the Monitoring of the Canadian Government.
CBC
In the summer of 2020, after seeing the lowest salmon population on record, even the most pro-community indigenous communities that retained the tradition of fishing salmon became aware of the salmon population crisis. As a result, many fishermen in Aboriginal communities have waived the Canadian Constitution's protection of their fishing rights in order to protect salmon populations.
A leader of an Indigenous community wrote in a statement: "We know that this means unimaginable difficulties for our families and communities: not only has the food in our refrigerators been lost this winter, but we have given up our right to practice traditional culture, but in this way our children may only be able to see our proud 'totem' from the aquarium." "We believe that our responsibility to salmon and our descendants leaves us with no choice."
How rising temperatures are changing Vancouver restaurant menus
In recent years, temperatures in western Canada have soared by more than 40 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days, and such high temperatures are not only fatal to humans, but also to marine life.
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It's not just B.C. salmon that's hit by heatwaves, but shellfish as well. Most of the marine life that dies in heat waves is intertidal shellfish, which are exposed to the hot sun at low tide. Mussels and clams, which are popular on local seafood menus in particular, have died in large numbers. Oysters, often hardy species, also have their yields affected in hot climates.
Troy Hutchins, who farms Pacific oysters in Oak Orver Bay, told reporters last year that 80 percent of his oysters died in the 2021 summer heat.
"It will take at least three to four years for my business to get back to where it was before," Hutchings said. "Live oysters are also not suitable for sale." Harry said it was only a matter of time before another mass death occurred.
Climate warming has seriously affected the lives of each and every one of us, and it seems that it is urgent to protect the environment and seek countermeasures...
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