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Author Topic: Chum Salmon On The Chilliwack River  (Read 2434 times)

chris gadsden

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Chum Salmon On The Chilliwack River
« on: November 05, 2020, 07:14:01 AM »

I filmed this yesterday.

It always amazes me to see this taking place. I think of the great distances this pair of chum salmon, born 4 years ago near this same location would have travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles out to the Pacific ocean.

They avoided many dangers and predators including fishers, commercial boats,recreational anglers and First Nations nets in the Fraser River as they return home to this spot, the place of their birth.

Look how the buck lovely nudge his wife to encourage her to lay her hundred's of precious eggs.

As I leave them I am sad in a way as I know, they after completing the spawning cycle they will guard the nest for awhile. Then the fungus now on their bodies will take over, their strength now sapped from their bodies and they will drift downstream until they die.
Their is good news their bodies will provide nutrients for the river, making it healthy for their offspring so a few can return to this spot in 4 years to continue the life cycle of our precious salmon.

Of course we must do more to protect all salmon species.

https://youtu.be/J49KA5x5EW0

obie1fish

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Re: Chum Salmon On The Chilliwack River
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2020, 08:42:18 AM »

To me, this is one of the most beautiful, selfless stories out there.
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clarki

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Re: Chum Salmon On The Chilliwack River
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2020, 10:45:05 PM »

To me, this is one of the most beautiful, selfless stories out there.
Agreed. It’s always a delight to see to fish paired up and on their redds. Something their ancestors have done for thousands of years with no help from us, and continue to do in spite of us.

I haven’t seem chum escapement numbers for this year, or compared to previous years, but my observations on the C/V seem to indicate a higher return than in years past. Hope so. Chum are an ecosystem building block that so many other species depend on.
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