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.”

11-1-12 Late salmon run - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA

The Koksilah River is in trouble, with low flows threatening fish populations.

Majority of the red salmon went up the middle of the Klutina River and tended to weigh a pound or less.

Commercial and Subsistence Harvest

“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.”

With some of this year's salmon runs projected to be the lowest on record, West Coast salmon fishermen are demanding disaster relief from the federal and provincial governments.

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.

A new study that suggests sockeye returns have dropped by three-quarters in the Skeena River over the last century should serve as a "wake-up call" for B.C., the lead researcher says.

11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA

Federal fisheries experts paint devastating picture of the challenges facing Pacific salmon and point to climate change as the main culprit.

Scientists have made a new discovery they hope will provide more insight into declining salmon populations in our province.

Thawing permafrost and river bank collapsed on the Cheenik Creek.

The number of chinook salmon that reached the Whitehorse fish ladder this year hit a 40-year low, and it's not clear why. Just 282 chinook passed through the fish ladder this year, compared to 690 last year. "We did see some large pre-spawn mortality die-offs in a tributary of the Yukon River — the Koyukuk in Alaska. This was for summer chum, and not chinook — but we expect that that higher water temperature also affected the chinook migrating through."

But at least there is a stream...

Researchers on Vancouver Island are studying fish they recently discovered that share genes of both coho and chinook salmon. The hybrid fish, are likely the result of drought in the Cowichan watershed, which has impacted when and where coho and chinook spawn.

Chum salmon die-off in the Kobuk River.

One short section of the river that last year at Thanksgiving had more than 100 fish in it, this year on the same weekend had less than 20.

Pink salmon die-off, and low water levels at Antone Larsen Creek

4-21-13 Unseasonable chum salmon - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA

Amazing run of pink salmon.

12-31-15 Late coho salmon - Klawock, Alaska, USA

Strange chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

Thousands of varied salmon species reported dead at Klawock River.

Traditional knowledge keepers and ADFG identify as a chum salmon.

Low water on area rivers

Causing muted tidal influence

8-12-13 Growth in coho salmon - Hydaburg, Alaska, USA

Parasite identified as sea lice.

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.

We wondered at the huge number of pinks still in the lagoon. Are they running later then normal?

Elders are finding this unusual for this late in the season.

The creeks were so full - I bet the oxygen levels weren't so good for them though.

Sockeye are smaller in size and fewer in number this year than in recent years.

We have visited this creek every summer for 10 years, since 2008, including every August, and we have never seen the water this low.