LEO Network

About the LEO Network
The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Scientists find dramatic increase in pollock in Northern Bering Sea
Three researchers from the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center completed a trawl survey of the Northern Bering Sea in 2017 and found a dramatic increase in pollock.
Northern Bering Sea, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Paper Mill Dam: Swimming Hole Monitoring
Paper Mill Dam, Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Sea life beneath Antarctic ice shelf is changing, and warming may be why
In dives to the seafloor, scientists have noticed big differences in only a few years.
McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Washington Post

Hundreds of dead blackfish found in waters near Bethel
Some local officials suspect water pollution killed the fish, but state officials offered an alternative explanation.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Hundreds of dead blackfish found in waters near Bethel
Smart started finding dead fish in his trap near Dull Lake about two or three weeks ago. Now there are hundreds and hundreds of them.Some local officials suspect water pollution killed the fish, but state officials offered an alternative explanation. According to the Fish and Game representative a local fisherman forgot to check a blackfish trap and may have dumped the dead fish in Dull Lake.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

As Oceans Warm, the World’s Kelp Forests Begin to Disappear
Tasmania, Australia
Yale Environment 360

Fish Return to Akhiok Bay
Akhiok residents report that fish have returned to Akhiok Bay since the outfall was repaired/extended further into the ocean
Akhiok, Alaska, United States

As Wild Salmon Decline, Norway Pressures Its Giant Fish Farms
New rules to combat sea lice have angered Norway’s important aquaculture industry. But environmental groups want to go much further.
Byrknes, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
The New York Times

Fish almost cut in half by discarded sports drink wrapper
Adam Turnbull found the fish growing around a ring of plastic.
Yahoo News

A Not So Normal Summer
Drought, causing low waters in Goodnews River, no blackberries, and early cool weather.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Dead Little Fish After High Water
A resident of the community was near the gravel pit when he came across a number of dead fish.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Cysts
Silver salmon, caught 10 miles up the Twin Hills River, had small white patches in flesh.
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

Stinger jellyfish swarms wipe out farmed salmon in west of Ireland
Killary Harbour, Ireland
The Irish Times

"Glowing" Tomcod (Microgadus proximus) in the dark - plankton?
I notice fluorescent glowing in the dark: happens to be the tomcods I caught the other day.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

King-of-the-salmon (Trachipterus altivelis) stranded on beach
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

'Very rare' King-of-the-Salmon fish found on Vancouver Island beach
A thin, shimmering fish covered in purple scales and fringed with a red dorsal fin. It turned out to be a massive King-of-the-Salmon fish, measuring about two metres in length.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Rare "king-of-the-salmon" washes up on Oak Bay beach
The rare type of ribbonfish was found by a man walking his dog on Rattenbury Beach.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Surrey Now-Leader

Alaska could become climate change refuge for tropical fish
Researchers from the University of Washington used 80 years of data to figure out how much warming fish could withstand. They discovered fish in the tropics are already living in water at the upper end of their threshold.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Pink salmon found in odd places near Homer
Pink salmon are showing up in unexpected places around the Homer area.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Late Run of Abundant Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Elders are finding this unusual for this late in the season.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Monstrous 1-ton ocean sunfish caught in Russia's far east, thrown to the bears
The group of Sakhalin fishermen did not expect to find the Lovecraftian monster in their nets as they took to the sea for smaller fry on Saturday. The enormous fish, considered a delicacy in some cultures, proved to be a dead weight as it didn't make it to the shore fresh.
Iturup island, Russia
RT International

Salmon Spill Sends Thousands of Invasive Fish Swimming Up and Down the Pacific Coast
Last month, a pen in Washington State holding hundreds of thousands of fish broke, sending swarms of silver Atlantic salmon swimming to the south and north.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
Gizmodo

Atlantic salmon arrive in French Creek -- Not in a good way!
Atlantic salmon, believed to be part of a cohort that escaped from a U.S.-based fish farm on Aug. 19, are being hauled in by anglers fishing out of French Creek on mid-Vancouver Island. Cameron Whe…
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Fisherynation.com

Lynn Canal fishermen land record low sockeye harvest
Gillnetters have caught about 36,900 sockeye salmon in Lynn Canal so far this summer, the lowest harvest on record, according to preliminary Alaska.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Dry Koksilah River threatens fish in Cowichan Valley
The Koksilah River is in trouble, with low flows threatening fish populations.
Koksiloh River, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Parasites on Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Parasite identified as sea lice.
Whipple Creek, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in southern coastal BC
Southern BC Waters

Human mood drugs end up in Great Lakes fish
Study finds Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac and Serafem in multiple Great Lakes fish species — possibly changing their behavior and impacting the ecosystem
Niagara River, New York, United States
Detroit Free Press

After Atlantic salmon spill, fish farms’ future under attack on both sides of border
Cooke Aquaculture Pacific knew its Cypress Island facility was “vulnerable” before the spill that sent tens of thousands of invasive Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Now, the future of Atlantic salmon farming in Washington is in doubt.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Day of reckoning for marine invaders
For centuries, marine species have moved around either by hitching ride on the hulls of ships or as stowaways in ballast water. In many instances, species have been deliberately introduced for aquaculture or other commercial purposes.
United Kingdom
Phys.org

Abundant Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
The creeks were so full - I bet the oxygen levels weren't so good for them though.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Giant Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteusin)
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton, Mandy Lindeberg

Lummi Nation fishermen catch an estimated 20,000 Atlantic salmon following fish farm collapse
It's unclear how many Atlantic salmon escaped from the pen. The Lummi Nation says tribal fishermen have removed 20,000 from the Puget Sound. Washington state officials says Cooke Aquaculture has recovered 120,000 fish from the pen and that more are still inside.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
CBC News

Here’s what that farmed fish escape in Washington could mean for Alaska
Some are concerned about the farmed Atlantic salmon coming to Alaska and bringing unwelcome competition for native species.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

U.S. First Nation declares state of emergency after Atlantic salmon spill near Victoria
A First Nation near Bellingham, Wash., has declared a state of emergency after thousands of Atlantic salmon escaped a U.S. fish farm in the San Juan Islands near Victoria, B.C.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
CBC News

More escaped Atlantic salmon show up off Washington, no reports from B.C. waters
Point Williams, Washington, United States
Vancouver Sun

'Environmental Nightmare' After Thousands Of Atlantic Salmon Escape Fish Farm
Officials blame the failure of a pen near Washington's Cypress Island on high tides caused by the eclipse, but that is being questioned. Fishing boats are scrambling to catch as many as possible.
Deepwater Bay, Washington, United States
NPR.org

Spill of farmed Atlantic salmon near San Juan Islands much bigger than first estimates
A fish farm was destroyed after the Atlantic salmon escape, with Cooke Aquaculture calling it a “salvage operation.” Scientists debunked the statement from Cooke that “exceptionally high tides and currents coinciding with this week’s solar eclipse” caused the damage.
The Seattle Times

Atlantic salmon escape U.S. fish farm near B.C. waters
Local Indigenous community says the invasive species could devastate fishing industry in the area
The Globe and Mail

Disturbing New Footage Shows Diseased, Deformed Salmon in B.C. Fish Farms
New footage released to DeSmog Canada shows deformed and disfigured salmon at two salmon farms on the B.C. coast — just as British Columbia reels from news of the escape of up to 305,000 Atlantic farmed salmon from a Washington salmon pen. Wild salmon advocate and fisheries biologist Alexandra Morton said she was shocked by the footage. “I was shocked and frankly disgusted,” Morton told DeSmog Canada. “These fish have open sores, sea lice, blisters all over their skin and a disturbing number of them are going blind.” Morton said the footage also gives an indication of what is now travelling through Pacific waters after the escape of potentially hundreds of thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon in the San Juan Islands just east of Victoria. Atlantic salmon are considered invasive in Pacific waters.
Broughton Island
DeSmog Canada

Environmentalists question eclipse explanation for huge salmon dump
Did Monday's eclipse play a role in a huge Atlantic salmon spill from a fish farm in the San Juans? The company says yes. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging the public to catch as many of the fish as possible, with no limit on size or number. The fish are about 10 pounds each. No one will know how many escaped until harvesting is completed.
Skagit County, Washington, United States
KGW8 NEWS

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
Thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon were accidentally released into the waters between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, and officials are asking people to catch as many as possible. Tribal fishers, concerned about native salmon populations, call the accident “a devastation.”
The Seattle Times

Up to 305,000 invasive adult Atlantic salmon escape fish farm in San Juan Islands
There were 305,000, 10 lb Atlantic salmon when the pen at the fish farm in the San Juan Islands burst open on Saturday.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
Daily Hive

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
It's open season on Atlantic salmon as the public is urged to help mop up a salmon spill from an imploded net pen holding 305,000 fish at a Cooke Aquaculture fish farm near Cypress Island.
Alaska Dispatch News

What British Columbians can do in the aftermath of the Atlantic salmon farm spill
There could be a major ecological impact to the coastal waters stretching from British Columbia to Oregon after an Atlantic salmon farm near the San Juan Islands, just east of Victoria, accidentally spilled thousands of live fish into local waters.
Daily Hive

Thousands of Atlantic salmon escape fish farm near Victoria after nets damaged
Thousands of Atlantic salmon have escaped into Pacific waters east of Victoria after a net pen was damaged. The company is blaming high tides, but the tides weren't unusual.
CBC News

Alaska's Grizzly Bears Drop Salmon for Berries as Climate Changes
When Kodiak Island's elderberries started ripening earlier, its iconic bears changed their diet. It's another ecological shift amid climate change, scientists say.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

That's a lot of Humpies (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
We wondered at the huge number of pinks still in the lagoon. Are they running later then normal?
Tutka Bay Lagoon, Alaska, United States

New Jersey-Size Dead Zone Is Largest Ever in Gulf of Mexico
Scientists report the latest data from the Upper Gulf of Mexico, and the results aren’t good.
Northern Gulf of Mexico
National Geographic

Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) off Masset, Haida Gwaii
near Masset, Haida Gwaii

110 salmon counted on Salmon River; tribe says new research could lead to protections
Another troubling sign of the poor state of this year's Pacific Ocean salmon runs was discovered on one the Klamath River's tributaries after an annual fish survey counted the second lowest number of spring-run Chinook salmon on record.
Salmon River, California
Eureka Times-Standard

Homeowners see dead wildlife in Tinker Creek from chemical spill
Fallout continued Sunday after Saturday's chemical spill into Tinker Creek.
Hollins, Virginia, United States
WSLS

Does the Caribbean have a shark problem?
Caribbean Sea
Virgin

Pumpkin the great white shark feasting in Nova Scotia's Minas Basin
Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada

Where are Koliganek's king salmon?
More than 2.5 million sockeye have returned to spawn in the Nushagak River this year, one of the highest counts on record. They have filled pools and creeks, jumping and swimming their way to their spawning grounds.
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Scientist says hatchery strays could threaten wild fish populations
Large numbers of salmon straying from hatcheries in Southeast Alaska, as well as a low river flow, helped create lethal environments for wild salmon, according to a new report.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Yukon River chinook run stronger, but not enough for open fishing - Yukon News
‘It’s still only about half of the historical average,’ fisheries official says
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Tales of Lake Iliamna monster resurface with new sightings
On June 19, some kids spotted an unrecognized creature the size of a large whale offshore near the Alaska village of Iliamna. Other accounts followed.
Iliamna Lake, Alaska, United States

A 'Ghost Shark' Swims into our Imaginations
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute fascinated the world when it released a video of an unusual species of "ghost shark" in its natural, deep-sea habitat off our own Central Coast—the first time the species has ever been seen alive. These recently published observations also established a range extension for the species into the Northern Hemisphere.
Davidson Seamount
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM SHORELINES

4 Dead, Liverless Sharks Wash Ashore in Weird Whodunit
Orca whales appear to be killing great white sharks and eating their livers and, in some cases, their hearts.
Western Cape Province, South Africa
Live Science

Pipefish (Sygnathinae) Observed
Found Pipefish
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Where are the kings? Kuskokwim River may see its worst run on record.
Residents who have long depended on chinook salmon to fill drying racks and smokehouses are worried about their food for next winter.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Killer whales are stalking boats and stealing their fish
Pods of killer whales are stalking the boats of Alaska fishermen and stealing their halibut catches, leaving the men with no fish and thousands of gallons of fuel wasted trying to flee.
It’s not...
Bering Sea
The Verge

Too many pink salmon in Kachemak Bay?
If Alaska expands how many pink salmon its hatcheries — such as the one in Tutka Bay — produce, will there be unintended consequences that harm Kachemak Bay?
Tutka Bay, Alaska, United States

Ghost fishing: Lost pots are a crab killer
Douglas Indian Association catalogs marine debris at the bottom of Gastineau Channel | Though it sounds like the subtitle to a Pirates of the Caribbean movie, ghost fishing is a real phenomenon. It's going on right now in Gastineau Channel.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Southern California fisherman catches rare giant fish
Shawn Steward of Oxnard, Calif., had a once-in-a-lifetime catch last week in the Channel Islands. Steward caught a 90-pound opah, which is very rare to this area.
Channel Islands, California
Fox News

Overfishing is killing climate-resistant coral found in Mozambique
Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique
Mail Online

Extraordinary levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench
Mariana Trench
the Guardian

Salinity and leopard shark mortality in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco, California, United States

Stream temperature monitoring could provide insight into important fish populations
The Chilkat River and its nearby waters are a major source of food for subsistence fishermen in Haines and Klukwan. That’s one reason decreased salmon runs are alarming in the Chilkat and other rivers in Southeast. Tribal leaders around the region are trying to get a handle on one factor that may contribute to declining returns.
Klukwan, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Leopard sharks dying by the hundreds in San Francisco Bay
Alameda, California, United States
SFGate

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning along west Seattle shoreline
West Seattle Beaches, Washington, United States

Sharks Are Dying By the Hundreds in San Francisco Bay -
Foster City, California, United States
Bay Nature

In Greenland’s northernmost village, a melting Arctic threatens the age-old hunt
But the age-old Inugguit lifestyle is changing fast as the climate warms, disrupting long-held patterns and possibilities and forcing economic challenges as a traditional hunting culture weighs new industries such as fishing and even tourism.
Qaanaaq, Greenland
The Washington Post

Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Port Moody Arm
Port Moody Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Parasite on a Hooligan's (Thaleichthys pacificus) Gill
A parasitic copepod- similar to or possibly *Salmincola*.
Lutak Inlet, Alaska, United States

Low water in the Peace River
Peace River, Taylor, British Columbia

Hurghada Coast Degradation
Coral degradation, fish species decline and an increase in jellyfish population.
Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

At-risk countries worry what 'America first' means for climate change
Bairiki Village, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
Public Radio International

Great Barrier Reef hit by severe coral bleaching — study
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
NBC News

No assurance that water in Cowichan River now will help with summer drought
It’s likely a lot of Cowichan Lake residents think there’s plenty of water around for the summer of 2017, given the winter we’ve been having. But, according to Cowichan River watcher Parker Jefferson, “We’re just about where we were last year.”
Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Herring spawn on eelgrass
Coal Port, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Herring spawn near Lily Point
Near Lily Point, Point Roberts, Washington, United States

Dark Winter Mystery Salmon
Traditional knowledge keepers and ADFG identify as a chum salmon.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States
Martha Turner, Patricia Yaska, Erica Lujan, Robert Hannon

How the Great Barrier Reef is responding to global warming. (Hint: not well)
Global warming has likely caused permanent damage to the world's largest coral reef, according to a new report in the journal Nature.
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
latimes.com

Northern lampfish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus) Die-off
Hundreds of northern lampfish were observed on Nahku Bay beach. The last die-off occurred in March 2011.
Nahku Bay, Alaska, United States

Low salmon projections cancel popular Southeast spring king derby
Juneau's Spring King Salmon Derby won’t happen this year, because there aren’t enough fish. State biologists predict chinook returns will be low this year.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Yukon species list shows climate change in action
A big emphasis in the last few years has been updating and adding to the list of species known to occur in the Yukon.
This past year, a whopping 1,973 species of plants, insects and animals have been added.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Bumper harvest as herring return to Strait of Georgia in great numbers
The commercial roe-herring fishery opened with a flourish over the weekend as the gillnet fleet took its share of what the federal government predicts to be “near-historic” returns to the Strait of Georgia.
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Our mysteriously shrinking Kenai king salmon
Since Les Anderson landed a 97-pound Kenai king in 1985, the prized fish has been harder to find and smaller. Is there something we all can do to help reverse the trend?
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Amazon Deforestation, Once Tamed, Comes Roaring Back
"A decade after the “Save the Rainforest” movement captured the world’s imagination, Cargill and other food giants are pushing deeper into the wilderness."
Coari, Amazonas, Brazil
HIROKO TABUCHI, CLAIRE RIGBY and JEREMY WHITE

New restrictions made on king salmon fishing in Kenai and Kasilof
he Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced restrictions Thursday for king salmon fishing in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. King runs to the Kenai and Kasilof continue their recent trend of expected low returns.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

WATCH: Rare Sunfish observed in the waters near Bella Bella
Seaforth Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with deformity
Fish has bend in spine.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with Lesions
Lesions on this Dolly Varden or Arctic char are most likely furuncles caused by a common bacterial pathogen called Aeromonas salmonicida.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Logging Crew Mobilizes Near Irreplaceable Wetland, Slated for Site C Flooding
Watson Slough, Peace River region
DeSmog Canada

Asian tapeworm found in Alaskan salmon
Scientists recently announced they had found an Asian tapeworm species in pink salmon caught off the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Listen now
Hope, Alaska, United States

Muuelomuuel (Red Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum) Flowering
Flowers blooming near the mouth of the Klamath River
Klamath, California, United States

Fish Seek Cooler Waters, Leaving Some Fishermen’s Nets Empty
Catch limits for fishermen are often based on where fish have been most abundant in the past. But they have failed to keep up with geographical changes.
Rhode Island, United States
New York Times

Sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) school
Island View Beach

White Fish (C. nelsonii) with Saprolegnia Fungus
Had pus on them.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Kachemak Bay has seen massive die-offs of sea stars and other species. What’s going on?
Kachemak Bay has witnessed massive die-offs of sea stars, murres and razor clams. Whats going on?
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) intertidal burrowing
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Juvenile Pacific Herring ball (Clupea pallasii)
Henderson Point, North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Unusual Turbidity in Sarita River
Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada

Mixed schools of Sandlance (Ammodytes personatus) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)

Seafood's new normal: An ecosystem at risk
Special report: A huge disruption to California's coastal ecosystem is under way after several years of unusually warm ocean conditions and drought.
Northern California Coastal Areas
The San Francisco Chronicle

Mushy halibut syndrome reported by Inlet fishermen
Saltwater fishery officials are reporting a resurgence of a mysterious condition that's bound to turn the stomachs of anglers -- mushy halibut syndrome. Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Barbi Failor said the department is receiving more reports of mushy fish caught by sport fishermen all over Cook Inlet.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Surf smelt (Hypomesus prestiosus) school
15m north of the Island View Beach boat ramp

Subsistence Harvest Comes Early
Silver salmon, Brant geese and berries.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Low Salmon Numbers
Commercial and Subsistence Harvest
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Low Stream Water for Pink Salmon
But at least there is a stream...
Seldovia, Alaska, United States
Stephen Payton, Michael Opheim , Ryan Brubaker

A Poor Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Fishing for pinks has been really up and down the last few years. In 2014 the catch was really low, and then 2015 it was amazing with more than we had ever seen before. This year's pink salmon return again, was really bad.
Red Bluff, Popof Island, Alaska

Abundant Jellyfish Disrupt Commercial Salmon Fishery
Purse seiner crew scrambles to shovel the huge bycatch of Northern sea nettle jelly fish (*Chrysaora melanaster*) overboard.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Large school of post-larval California anchovy (Engraulis mordax)
Trincomali Channel, Valdes Island

Fraser River sockeye salmon at lowest numbers since records began in 1893
“The exact reasons why the return fell at the lower end of the forecast range are unknown at this time, but poorer than average marine survival is a leading candidate.”
Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada
Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

Unusual Fish - Whitespotted greenling (Hexagrammos stelleri)
Unknown fish caught this summer in Togiak Bay.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Uncommon Fish (Lota lota) Found In Koyuk River
Fish
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Filled with Pus
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

California anchovy (Engraulis mordax) schools
Turnstall Bay, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Dolphins in Salish Sea signal warming worries
Times Colonist

Toxic algae blamed for die-off at 2 salmon farms in Clayoquot Sound
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada

Early Breakup Causing Lots of Change
Early breakup brings early arrivals.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Rare 'gentle giant' shark spotted off West Coast
Bella Bella, british columbia

Large Goldfish (Carassius auratus) populations in two stormponds
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

West Coast Harmful Algal Bloom
Over the past few months, a massive toxic bloom of the marine diatom *Pseudo-nitzschia*, stretching from central California to the Alaska Peninsula, has resulted in significant impacts to coastal resources and marine life. NOAA has been working closely with federal, state, tribal, academic, and other partners to respond to this unprecedented harmful algal bloom (HAB).
Pacific Ocean, Northern to East Coasts
National Ocean Service (NOAA)

Growth On Sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys) Heart
Tapioca like growth identified as larval trematode parasites (digenean metacercariae).
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Lake Level Peak Elevation Shift, Shuswap Lake
Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada

It's official: unusual Atlantic salmon catch confirmed in Clyde River, Nunavut
Science has confirmed what fishermen in Clyde River, Nunavut, have been saying for decades: Atlantic salmon do make their way to the hamlet on Baffin Island north of the Arctic Circle.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Pez poco común observado en Las Glorias
Estos peces son venenosos y difíciles de ser observados por confundirse muy bien con el ambiente.
La Pitahaya, Sinaloa, Mexico
David Martínez, Evaristo Rojas, Juan Carlos Villasenor-Derbez, Yutzil Lora Cabrera

Winter flooding, warm ocean likely affected Southeast humpies
This season's pink salmon were slightly bigger, but southern Panhandle runs fizzled.
Southeast Panhandle, Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Black Fungus (phaeohyphomycoses) on Smelt
Smelt caught on the Kugkaktlik River were found to have dark spots on the skin. Photo examination suggests that the cause is the same black fungus found in saffron cod in Norton Sound. Continued surveillance for this condition in fish is requested by LEO Network members.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, James Berner, Jennifer Dobson, Jayde Ferguson, Nick Slim

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia Mold
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Replogle Swan, Jayde Ferguson, Ali Hamade, Janet Mitchell

Low Waters For Fish in Kodiak
Pink salmon die-off, and low water levels at Antone Larsen Creek
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

'Did I really see a mola mola down there?'
Scientists and fishermen have reported more unusual species in Alaska waters, including the subtropical mola mola, or ocean sunfish. It's likely because of warming sea surface temperatures.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

It's a different ocean right now: First great whites, now hammerhead sharks spotted in Orange County waters
Malibu Beach, California, United States
Orange County Register

Why More Hammerhead Sharks Are Popping Up Off Southern California Coast
Huntington Beach, California, United States
CBSLA.com

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Die-off, Jakolof Creek
Drought and high temperatures have dried the creek and caused thousands of pink salmon and Dolly Varden to die before they could spawn. The event raises questions about vulnerability of area salmon streams to climate change, and for local residents food security.
Jakolof Creek, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim , Stephen Payton, Ryan Brubaker

Unusual Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Behavior
Majority of the red salmon went up the middle of the Klutina River and tended to weigh a pound or less.
Copper Center, Alaska, United States

Strange Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Strange chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Koyukuk, Alaska, Unites States
Ali Hamade, Jayde Ferguson, April Williams

Soupfin Shark (Galeorhinus galeus) Strandings
Near Pesuta Shipwreck, Tlell, Haida Gwaii

Diseased Salmon
Torneälven, Lainioälven

So Many Pinks (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
Amazing run of pink salmon.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Low Water at Mouth of Klamath River
Causing muted tidal influence
Klamath, California, United States
Micah Gibson, Mike Brubaker, Paul Van Mechelen, Joe Hostler

Where are all the jellyfish on Melmerby beach?
Little Habour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) an Unusual Catch
Sablefish an unusual catch
Seldovia, Alaska United States

Infected salmon just another problem for Yukon subsistence fishermen
Yukon subsistence fishermen face challenges with gear restrictions, closures, and reports of salmon potentially infected with ichthyophonus, impacting their summer fishing activities.
Yukon River, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Deformed Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Deformed halibut (Hippoglossus stenoloepis)
Cape Vancouver, Alaska, United States

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) Reeled-in
Unusual fish catch
Kake, Alaska, United States

Rotten Smell and Mushy Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Mushy meat texture, and rotten smell found in sockeye salmon and pacific halibut.
Meshik River, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Ocean 'blob' brings bad fish food to B.C. waters
The so-called 'warm blob' of water in the North Pacific has brought unusual plankton, which lack the nutrients wild salmon and other marine animals count on.
Northeast Pacific Ocean

Sheen on Water in Shishmaref
Photos and observations of the sheen thought to be caused by a fuel leak in the village of Shishmaref.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Biologists ponder effects of a warmer ocean as pink salmon fry leave early
Biologists suspect climate change and mild winters may have prompted April's early out migration from Auke Creek.
Auke Bay, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
Near San Diego, California

The Blob: Why warmer oceans are a big concern
Warm water threatens marine habitats off the coast of BC
Northeast Pacific Ocean
Sooke News Mirror

Increase in Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
4/4/15 Increase in pike - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

The warm ‘blob’ in Canada’s Pacific Ocean
Last year, 2014, was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. Unlike other worldwide problems from which Canadians might feel relatively safe and isolated, but Canada is actually ground zero of global climate.
Gulf of Alaska / Northeast Pacific
Times Colonist

Pregnant whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

Deformed Blackfish
2/27/15 Deformed blackfish - Tooksook Bay, Alaska, USA
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Needle Fish Die-off
2/20/15 Needle fish die-off - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Lantern Fish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus)
2/15/15 Lantern fish - Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

Deformed Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Nice looking whitefish, but had a bulged out eyeball on one side of head.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Late Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
12-31-15 Late coho salmon - Klawock, Alaska, USA
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Whitefish (C. nelsonii) has Brown Skin
Fish had a brownish moldy growth all over its body.

Late Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Run
11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Arctic Char with Sores and Parasites (Salmincola)
10-24-15 Arctic char with sores and parasites - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus)
10-20-14 Sleeper shark - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Parasites
9-24-14 Coho salmon with parasites - New Stuyahok, Alaska, USA
New Stuyahok, Alaska, United States

Rare whale shark sighting documented near Catalina
Near Catalina Island, California, United States
Pete Thomas Outdoors

Unusual species in Alaska waters indicate parts of Pacific warming dramatically
Hinchenbrook Entrance, Alaska

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Die-off
Chum salmon die-off in the Kobuk River.
Ambler, Alaska, United States
Virginia Commack, Susan Georgette, Jayde Ferguson

Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)

Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
7-3-14 Kelp greenling - Golovin, Alaska, USA
Golovin, Alaska, USA

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) in Set-net Gear
Unknown fish species caught in set-net gear
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Sick Cod
6-12-14 Sick Cod - Tununak, Alaska, USA
Tununak, Alaska, United States

Abundant Herring Roe
Abundant herring roe, most ever seen during the low tide - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Growth on Broad Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Fishing this spring and caught a broad whitefish that had a growth.
Selawik, Alaska. United States

Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii Early
Hunters noticed some herring were starting to spawn near Cape Denbigh. The herring scheduled to arrive on May 25th, are over a week early.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Needle Fish with Lesions
Needle fish with lesions observed.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Skin Illness on Whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
10-13-13 Skin illness on whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Central Welland River Fish Kill
Common carp (*Cyprinus carpio*) and channel catfish (*Ictalurus punctatus*) die from low dissolved oxygen and ammonia that are the result of an over-application of biosolids.
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Stickleback Fish Kill
9-14-13 Stickle-back fish kill - Lake Illiamna, Alaska, USA
Lake Illiamna, Alaska, United States

Salmon Die-off
Thousands of varied salmon species reported dead at Klawock River.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Growth in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
8-12-13 Growth in coho salmon - Hydaburg, Alaska, USA
Hydaburg, Alaska, United States

Muddy River Raises Salmon Concerns
Thawing permafrost and river bank collapsed on the Cheenik Creek.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Invasive Crawfish on Nose Creek
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Poor Sea Ice - Our Sea Garden
The sea is our garden for food and other things.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
4-21-13 Unseasonable chum salmon - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Late Salmon Run
11-1-12 Late salmon run - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

B.C.'s Cowichan River in danger of drying up
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Unusual Skate Found on Arctic Beach
9-13-12 Unusual skate on Arctic beach - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Latest IHN outbreak forces cull at Millar Channel fish farm
Update: Aug. 16. Mainstream Canada has announced that the Millar Channel fish farm is now empty. The fish, infected with the IHN virus,were taken to a rendering facility. Mainstream Canada is developing a plan for cleaning and disinfecting the farm site, as per the requirements of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “This is an unfortunate incident, but we are pleased with how smoothly the depopulation procedure went considering the situation,” said Fernando Villarroel, Mainstream Canada’s managing director.
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Best sockeye return in 100 years
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is crowing about the opportunities with the 2010 return of sockeye to the Fraser river, calling it a  banner year for Fraser River sockeye salmon. This year's return is currently set at just over 25 million fish, one of the highest returns in the last hundred years. Several fishery openings for Fraser River sockeye have already occurred in 2010 and more are planned, she said.
Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Sucker Fish (Catostomus catostomus)
First time seeing a sucker fish in the Lower Yukon River.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Unusual eel-like fish
7-12-12 Eel-like fish - Kivalina, Alaska, USA
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Parasite causing problems for B.C. salmon farmers
Some B.C.-farmed salmon is reaching store shelves with a parasite that can liquefy the fish’s flesh into an unappetizing goop.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Longnose Skate (Raja rihina)
An unusual skeleton of a fish was found on the tide line in Kasitsna Bay.
Kasitsna Bay, Alaska, United States

Petroleum Smell in Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
6-20-12 Petroleum smell in chum salmon - Chevak, Alaska, USA
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Pacific sleeper shark
6-20-12 Pacific sleeper shark - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Invasive snakehead fish found in B.C. park lagoon
Voracious predator could be big threat to native aquatic populations
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Chiefs Concerned About Infectious Sockeye Virus
The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council is very concerned about the conclusive finding of the European Strain of Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISA) in sockeye in Rivers Inlet. The Secwepemc, like "most BC First Nations, have relied on salmon as the life blood of our people. Between 50 and 90 per cent of our people's diet consisted of salmon at the time of contact.
Rivers Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Pike wiped out in Cheney Lake; stand by for return of trout
Anchorage anglers got good news this week when Fish and Game reported that pesticide applied to Cheney Lake last October in an effort to wipe out invasive northern pike appears to have worked.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Alaska salmon may bear scars of global warming
With a sickening thud, another hefty and handsome salmon lands in the waste barrel, headed for the dogs .
Tanana, Alaska, United States
latimes.com

Scientists baffled over hundreds of fish 'spinning and whirling' dead onto South Florida shores
Scientists are puzzled over what is causing hundreds of fish to wash up dead in South Florida, including an endangered species native to the region.
Everglades
ABC News

Canada's AG warns Nunavut about dangers of not having a climate change action plan
Nunavut is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and doesn't have a plan to deal with them, according to the latest report by Canada's auditor general.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Kuskokwim Chums Still At Record Low, Reds Coming In Strong, Weather Makes Drying Fish Difficult
Kuskokwim River chum salmon numbers remain off-the-charts low. However, sockeyes are still coming in strong. Meanwhile, the summer rain has not been
KYUK

‘Freaky-looking’ fanged fishes found on Oregon coastline
Within the last few weeks, several lancetfish have appeared on the coast from Nehalem, in northern Oregon, to Bandon, which is about 100 miles from the California border, Oregon State Parks said on Facebook.
Nehalem, Oregon, United States

Prickly sharks (Echinorhinus cookei) observed in the shallow head of Monterey Submarine canyon

Humpback salmon have invaded the River Teno
This summer, the number of humpback salmon in the River Teno, the border river between Norway and Finland, has increased enormously from last year. These salmon have been swimming near the shores, with masses of them dying in the river from exhaustion. Local people are extremely worried.
Teno River, Norway/Finland Border
The Independent Barents Observer

Ancient white sturgeon caught in Canada
The fish measured 56 inches in circumference and weighed 800 lbs. Its age is not known, but it could be more than 100 years old, given its size. The monster sturgeon had never been tagged before, so this may have been the first time it was caught.
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
The Irish Times

Anglers on alert for invasive Pacific pink salmon
'Unprecedented numbers' of pink salmon were seen in 2017 and the fish have been spotted again this year.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

‘A lot of salmon died’: Ahousaht Guardians look to watershed restoration amid B.C.’s dangerously dry summer
B.C. drought exacerbating forestry damage to Bedwell River near Tofino as Ahousaht First Nation works to protect salmon, restore watershed.
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

With no dam to stop it, the Eklutna River is temporarily reborn. Many people hope to keep it alive for good.
Conservation and tribal groups in 2018 removed a downstream dam in the river northeast of Anchorage. But an upriver dam provides the cheapest energy in Southcentral Alaska. For people from the Native Village of Eklutna the river’s rebirth was an important moment. They want the 12-mile-long waterway permanently restored, along with the salmon their late elders once described as abundant.
Knik-Fairview, Alaska, United States

Lack of food drives away southern resident killer whales
The southern resident killer whales who returned to their traditional summer feeding grounds in the Salish Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday after a long absence have apparently left again, and although most of the members of J-, K- and L-Pods appeared to be healthy, at least one may be close to starvation.
Salish Sea
Times Colonist

Corals in peril at a popular Hawaiian tourist destination due to global climate change
Researchers from the Coral Reef Ecology Lab at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology documented the third global bleaching event as it occurred from 2014 to 2016 at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBNP) on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. Their findings, published in the international journal PeerJ, show that temperature is by far the most influential factor in coral bleaching at this well-managed location where corals, fish, and all other organisms are protected.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii, United States
EurekAlert!

Fish kill in Windsor area
Local fisherman Darren Porter saw this coming. "It's just common sense. I mean, you can’t take your fishbowl and put it on your stove.”
Lake Pusiquid, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
SaltWire

Yukon River Silvers On Track For Lowest Runs Ever
This season is shaping up to be the worst fall for salmon fishing on the Yukon River in recorded history. It follows the worst recorded summer salmon season ever.
Nunam Iqua, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Salmon Fishing On Lower Yukon Shut Down
On the Yukon River, subsistence salmon fishing is being closed to protect king salmon as they migrate upriver.
KYUK

‘It’s pretty dire’: Vancouver Island salmon under threat from climate change-induced droughts
Since the initial June to July heatwave shocked the Pacific Northwest, Heim says the Tsolum River Restoration Society has observed significantly fewer fish in the river, especially in its lower portions. Many of the remaining coho, which survived the heat wave, are suffering from diseases and fin rot as a result of heat stress.
Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

Tropical fish follow warmer waters south, devouring kelp forests
They are brightly coloured, beautiful and hungry — tropical fish and sea urchins are thriving in southern waters warmed by climate change. But now they are devastating kelp forests already knocked around by marine heatwaves.
southern Australia
ABC News

Basking Sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) Return to Monterey Bay
Moss Landing, California, United States

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