ATLANTIC SALMON IN OUR RIVERS?

[CHUMSALMON]

i was reading a post on another bb (flytalk 2.0) and the topic of supposedly steril atlantic salmon escaping there net pens (this was in b.c.) and have now been spawning in streams up there. but, this isn't just happening in b.c., i'm sure you all remember about 2 years ago when we had the pipeline explosion up here in Bellingham, well after teh explosion fish bio's. took samples of dead fish from whatcom creek, and guess what they found several atlantic salmon smolts in the creek, that had hatched from supposed steril atlantic salmon. there are some net pens here locally too, and yes they have had escapments. this kind of irk's me, we have enough problems with our fisheries already, and now to add this into the mix. Not sure what the outcome will be, but would be interested on what other ifish members thought of this topic? images/icons/confused.gif

[CHUMSALMON]

here is a link re: the atlantic salmon http://www.flyfishingforum.com/cgi-bin/UB/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=4&TID=1826&SID=34402

[4Salt]

Here is my honest opinion: So what! I HIGHLY doubt that eacaped atlantic salmon will EVER be a serious threat to steelhead or pacific salmon. It is my belief that the scare tactics being used in the press about competition, and atlantics taking over, is motivated by the fear that the commercial fishing industry has that farm-raised fish will corner the market and drive them out of business. Don't get me wrong, fish farming is far from being a perfect solution. Disease, pollution from concentrated populations in the net pens are real problems. But when added into the whole scheme of things, I would rather have a few atlantics start breeding populations, than the nets wipe out the remaining wild stocks. It's a lesser of two evils kind of thing, with the fish farms being WAY less in my opinion. Plus, atlantics bite, and fight well, and they taste pretty darn good too. images/icons/smile.gif

[AngleThis]

Who knows...introduction of new game species, whether it be accidental or not, may be bad or a very good thing. Altlantic salmon evolved to survive in the Atlantic; Pacific Salmon in the Pacific, but the planet is changing. Global warming and El Nino/La Nina have changed the Pacific significantly, and we're seeing some of the results of these changes in this year's fish counts. When all is said and one, in a hundred years from now, our waters may not be able to support our current gamefish species, and subsitute species like Atlantic salmon, might be just what we need here to keep fish coming up the river. Evolotuion is accelerating due to human intervention, perhaps cross locations will become commonplace in the future.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Three words.....

******
Me
Off

[Johnny Mac]

I remember when some sort of south american bass got into florida (8-9 years ago?)and folks were worried. They ended up breeding and cross breeding in there and the anglers couldnt be happier with it. It made one mean *** fighting guatamalin hybrid that tastes great and really didnt hurt the ecosystem at all.

Whats the diff between Pacific and Atlantic anyways?? images/icons/confused.gif

[smilesforu]

Atlantic salmon smolts grow faster. They have been tested against other smolts and they dominate the food supply. They threaten steelhead the most since that is there spawning cycle.

Thanks goodness the latest court ruling will make it so we can count those hatchery fish as wild. Just kidding of course.

Maybe we should start planting tiger Muskie everywhere. Just kidding again

Atlantic salmon escapees may already be present in enough systems to populate streams in the future. Are you willing to trade your steelhead fishing for altantic salmon?

[Ramstrong]

The Irony is that Atlantic Salmon were native to the great lakes basin and steelhead are winning that battle.