International expedition sets sail to research lives of wild Pacific salmon
The mystery lives of wild Pacific salmon will hopefully be better understood after a five week international research expedition that left the shores of British Columbia on Saturday.
Scientists from Canada, Russia, Unites States, Japan and South Korea set sail on a Russian vessel that will travel across the Gulf of Alaska to research the lives of wild Pacific salmon. Very little is known about the wild Pacific salmon once they leave the waters ways of the North Pacific coast.
Scientists will be collecting DNA samples to identify the exact stock the salmon came from including identifying which stream bed it originated from. They will study various stocks, species, health and overall condition of the travelling salmon.
The Blob
Scientists will also be examining the impact of "The Blob" on salmon stocks. The large mass of warm water in the Pacific off the coast of North America has poor nutritional value and has negatively impacted marine life.
Funding was provided by various sponsors including the provincial government, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, the BC Salmon Farmers’ Association, Harmac, the Pacific Salmon Commission and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans which provided $250,000 dollars so that the world can understand more about the lives and health of wild Pacific salmon.
Scientists hope that more information will be gathered to help identify the issues that have resulted in the decline of wild Pacific salmon stocks in British Columbia. The research results will be integral to the future of fisheries and the aquaculture industry.
The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission organised the research expedition as part of 2019 - The International Year of the Salmon.
