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Author Topic: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River  (Read 6915 times)

chris gadsden

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Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« on: May 01, 2020, 12:34:09 PM »

They started showing up this week around Chilliwack. FOC has gathered up some samples for testing.

I found  some around the Agassiz Rosedale Bridge area yesterday, see video I filmed below. Others have showed up at Gill Road area. If you see any please let us know. More info and pictures on my FB page.

https://youtu.be/xTbRbQda6co

Robert_G

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2020, 12:34:46 PM »

Poor salmon just can't win. One thing after another.
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wildmanyeah

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2020, 12:44:14 PM »

Big bar blasting
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Dave

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2020, 01:10:20 PM »

Big bar blasting
Might be hard to determine death by the look of those fish .. been dead awhile. And, it will depend on who from FOC did what during sampling. If it is only sockeye found dead narrows things down a lot, and wildmanyaeh might be correct.

Edit.  Afaik, the last blast was over 2 weeks ago; unlikely these fish have been dead 2 weeks, imo, and have drifted that far.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2020, 02:28:06 PM by Dave »
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poper

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2020, 06:11:46 PM »

Covid?
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chris gadsden

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2020, 06:40:13 PM »

Randy found one this AM at Gill,another fellow 2 last night at Gill. I got 6 more at Agassiz Rosedale Bridge today.

wildmanyeah

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2020, 07:53:44 PM »

They can take DNA if they care

Send them to CM
« Last Edit: May 01, 2020, 07:59:34 PM by wildmanyeah »
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chris gadsden

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2020, 09:22:22 PM »

They can take DNA if they care

Send them to CM
Its being worked on, her name is being mentioned too. Hope your department does care. I should say I hope the department does care.

clarki

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2020, 09:40:02 PM »

I was thinking along the same lines as Dave that it would seem unlikely for dead smolts to drift a couple of hundred km.
I wonder what the average mortality rate of migrating smolts is, to causes other than predation. Be curious to hear if the tests indicate something other than normal migration mortality.

Speaking of migration, it’s the same time of year when you observed the migrating stickleback last year. Any sign of them this year, Chris?
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avid angler

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2020, 12:10:08 AM »

They can take DNA if they care

Send them to CM
CM?
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arimaBOATER

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2020, 12:25:27 AM »

My guess is some type of chemical was dumped /flushed/ditch / into the river on purpose or by accident.
Chemical from some commercial building/factory/ industrial site....or from a train car/tank car...
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stsfisher

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2020, 07:17:38 AM »

Same thing happens from the displacement and wake of jet boats this time of year if run irresponsibly close to shore where these fish are migrating. You see a lot of it on the Harry when cutty fishing.
I am a boat owner and not passing blame, just another possibility.
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Dave

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2020, 07:42:25 AM »

CM?

Most likely KM, Kristi Miller.  But possibly AM, Alexandra Morton
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chris gadsden

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2020, 08:17:02 AM »

I was thinking along the same lines as Dave that it would seem unlikely for dead smolts to drift a couple of hundred km.
I wonder what the average mortality rate of migrating smolts is, to causes other than predation. Be curious to hear if the tests indicate something other than normal migration mortality.

Speaking of migration, it’s the same time of year when you observed the migrating stickleback last year. Any sign of them this year, Chris?
I have checked a couple of times but no sign of them.

bkk

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Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2020, 08:40:40 AM »

Most likely KM, Kristi Miller.  But possibly AM, Alexandra Morton
CM is probably Christine McWilliams
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