Since mid-July, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has reported that approximately one million chum salmon have migrated into the Yukon River from the Bering Sea. Despite this influx, experts caution that this rise in numbers does not necessarily indicate a positive trend for this specific salmon species.
In 2020, a significant decline in chum salmon numbers was observed, leaving researchers puzzled about the sudden drop and the subsequent increase this year. Sebastian Jones, a wildlife analyst at the Yukon Conservation Society, expressed concern over the lack of understanding surrounding these ecosystem fluctuations.
Canadian-origin salmon currently make up around 12% of the returning fish, a lower percentage compared to the usual 20-30%. While this figure remains below optimal levels, Jones noted an improvement from previous years, with hopes of 100,000 chum salmon crossing the border this season, up from 25,000 last year.
Despite the positive trend, Jones emphasized that the ideal numbers would range between 150,000 to 250,000 chum salmon entering the Yukon River. Stephanie Peacock from the Pacific Salmon Foundation highlighted the importance of chum salmon as a key nutrient source in the later part of the fall, along with chinook salmon, the other salmon species returning to the Canadian side of the river.
Both species have experienced declines over time, with chinook salmon showing a gradual decrease since the 1990s and chum salmon facing a more rapid decline, raising concerns among researchers. Investigating the environmental changes in the Bering Sea, where the salmon journey begins, experts noted shifts like rising water temperatures and increased industrial fishing activities, impacting the ecosystem in ways that are not yet fully understood.
While there is a sense of optimism regarding the recent salmon numbers, Peacock stressed the need for continued caution and long-term monitoring due to the significant decline seen in Yukon chum salmon over the years.
