The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

The roving humpy The pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha also known in some quarters as the "humpy", is one species that is rapidly changing range in the Arctic. This year, as warning bells have been ringing about declines in some Pacific and Atlantic salmon stocks, the pink salmon have been expanding their range and showing up in increasing numbers and unexpected locations. Case in point was the catch reported by Nunasiaq News in Iqualuit, Nunavut on September 26th (see article). Looking at a map view of this event and similar LEO Network posts you can see observations that may be indicative of the Arctic expansion of the species. The first big wave up the Mackenzie River was in 2018, followed by sightings in Nunavik in 2020 and now in Nunavut in 2021. Humpys have also been capturing headlines in Northern Europe. Again these are Pacific salmon, the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific species with a tendency for straying. They started showing up in Scotland and Norway in 2017, with big returns every two years a per the life cycle. This summer they were reported on the River Teno which is the northern border river between Norway and Finland (see article). How many humpys? The journal Salmon Business reported that 70,000 pink salmon were harvested so far this year in Norway's rivers. You can read about roving humpys in this edition as well as updates from the world of marine invertebrates, jellyfish blooms in Japan, and crab declines in Alaska. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Rare pink salmon spotted southeast of Iqaluit David Lochead / Nunatsiaq News / September 30, 2021 Karen Dunmall, a biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said pink salmon normally prefer warmer waters than the Arctic has been able to provide. But with the Arctic warming at up to three times the rate of the rest of the world, its waters are becoming more approachable for newcomers like this species. Read article on Nunatsiaq News
	Humpback salmon have invaded the River Teno Teno River, Norway/Finland Border Saara Seipiharju / The Independent Barents Observer / August 23, 2021 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. Read article on The Independent Barents Observer
	Large jellyfish threaten fisheries in the Sea of Japan Wakasa Bay, Japan The Japan News / September 5, 2021 Swarms of giant jellyfish are floating along the coastline of the Sea of Japan, and the damage they may cause to fisheries is feared to be the worst in more than a decade. Read article on The Japan News
	Valuable crab populations are in a ‘very scary’ decline in warming Bering Sea Bering Sea Hal Bernton / The Seattle Times / September 21, 2021 King and snow crab populations in the Bering Sea have plummeted ahead of the harvest season, some by 99% compared to previous years. Read article on The Seattle Times
	Sea Life Die-Off Found on Beach Elim, Alaska, United States Leigh Takak and Carol Oliver / LEO Network / July 23, 2021 "While on a field trip for work, we stopped at the beach and you can notice hundreds of dead clams and star fish littering the beach." Read post on the LEO Network
	How floor repair of 'igloo church' in Arctic Canada could offer deeper look into North's permafrost Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada Mackenzie Scott / Eye on the Arctic / September 22, 2021 The church is no outlier — several buildings in the community are affected by freeze-thaw cycle of permafrost. Even an iconic church is not immune from changing permafrost. Read article on Eye on the Arctic

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

Please forward this newsletter or share it on social media. Join the LEO Network to share your own stories of environmental change.

You may subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking here.

Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

Explore Posts

Submit a Post

Directory

About

My LEO

The NorthernClimate Observer

Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer