Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: chris gadsden on May 01, 2020, 12:34:09 PM

Title: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden 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
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: Robert_G on May 01, 2020, 12:34:46 PM
Poor salmon just can't win. One thing after another.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 01, 2020, 12:44:14 PM
Big bar blasting
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: Dave 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.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: poper on May 01, 2020, 06:11:46 PM
Covid?
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden 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.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 01, 2020, 07:53:44 PM
They can take DNA if they care

Send them to CM
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden 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.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: clarki 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?
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: avid angler on May 02, 2020, 12:10:08 AM
They can take DNA if they care

Send them to CM
CM?
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: arimaBOATER 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...
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: stsfisher 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.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: Dave on May 02, 2020, 07:42:25 AM
CM?

Most likely KM, Kristi Miller.  But possibly AM, Alexandra Morton
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden 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.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: bkk on May 02, 2020, 08:40:40 AM
Most likely KM, Kristi Miller.  But possibly AM, Alexandra Morton
CM is probably Christine McWilliams
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: Dave on May 02, 2020, 09:03:18 AM
CM is probably Christine McWilliams
ah, the vet, of course.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 02, 2020, 09:38:48 AM
If you want it to be fish farm related send it to AM she has her ways.

Yes I ment KM oops
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: RalphH on May 02, 2020, 09:54:45 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.

I have seen it as there well but it is not extensive, just a few fry here and there. Sticklebacks in the fall. I wonder if heavy boat traffic is causing accelerated erosion however. I'd bet that's more of a problem in summer when the water is higher and ski boats etc are active.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: stsfisher on May 02, 2020, 11:14:06 AM
I have seen it as there well but it is not extensive, just a few fry here and there. Sticklebacks in the fall. I wonder if heavy boat traffic is causing accelerated erosion however. I'd bet that's more of a problem in summer when the water is higher and ski boats etc are active.

I agree not extensive, but similier numbers being reported here.
"couple at Gill"
"6 at Agassiz"
"16 or so"

Not trying to down play it either, as any loss is something our fisheries can not afford right now.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: dcajaxs on May 02, 2020, 03:03:56 PM
anyone know how much turbidity can those smolts handle?  I find it incredible how cloudy the water can be and that the fish can tolerate it.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: Dave on May 02, 2020, 03:50:53 PM
anyone know how much turbidity can those smolts handle?  I find it incredible how cloudy the water can be and that the fish can tolerate it.

Good question, here's why it's difficult to come up with a means of measuring turbidity as it relates to mortality.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/526.1.pdf

I believe what the turbidity is caused by, ie. the fines, is important as well. Some forms of silica are hard on gill filaments so this could be a possible cause of death, or one of many.

Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 02, 2020, 06:21:54 PM
Good question, here's why it's difficult to come up with a means of measuring turbidity as it relates to mortality.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/526.1.pdf

I believe what the turbidity is caused by, ie. the fines, is important as well. Some forms of silica are hard on gill filaments so this could be a possible cause of death, or one of many.
I looked at the water today, no visibility at all, water is dropping but will be on the rise big time soon.
Title: Re: Dead Sockeye Smolts On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 04, 2020, 08:31:10 AM
https://www.theprogress.com/news/fisheries-officers-investigate-dead-salmon-fry-on-fraser-river-at-chilliwack/?fbclid=IwAR15f0SptXKkInU2R7REhSMElHy042cLYiHo7oK3A7u0Nsx5GSPyMkEZ-GY