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Where Are All The Salmon-An Environmental Biologist's Search

Salmons are in a fight for their own survival! There are many reasons for the great loss of the salmon population. Industrialization, which has polluted our air and water, the use of pesticides and chemicals and the loss of salmon habitat due to construction of both commercial and urban buildings. Climate change has drastically reduces our marine life population. Due to the loss of marine life fish farms have become very popular. This is called aquaculture, which is the growth of marine life in a controlled environment. Although fish farming may seem like the answer to all our problems there are many disadvantages. The Frasier River in British Columbia saw their population of salmon decline by close to 80% over 2 years. Environmental Biologists and other scientists have tried to figure out why this was happening.

The fishing industry, which is a large part of the western economy, was suffering terribly. They discovered that the fish farms were causing the death of many salmon. They discovered that the problem was anadromous. This is when the salmon go out into the ocean to feed and mate. Then they use their scent library to smell out where they were born. Once they find this then they will build their nests and lay their eggs. Humans started fish farming salmon at the mouth of the river. These are big nets in the water that act as a cage for all these genetically modified salmon.

These salmon do not have their natural traits. So you have all these salmon breathing, eating and defecating in this one area. Once this happens the wild salmon pick up everything on their way upstream. Some of the fish farm salmon escape and mate with wild fish and once this occurs, the salmon that are born are weaker and are not strong enough to swim upstream so they die. These modified fish also have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to parasites so they'll pass them on to the wild salmon and kill them. So these fish farms are part of the problem that is wiping out the salmon population.

Illegal fishing disables the ability for Biologists and organizations to regulate the salmon population. There are now severe fines for fishing illegally. If caught you could face up to a $25,000.00 fine. You can lose everything, your home where you stored your gear, your car and you can even end up in jail. In most areas you have to apply for a license to salmon fish and you are only allowed a regulated amount. This is a very severe issue. Wardens will even hide in the woods and watch people fishing and they are always around checking if you have your license.

The destruction of the forest is another reason for the decline of wild salmon. If a river is greater than 500 meters you need 20 meters of special management zones on each side. If the trees are cut down close to the sides of the river the tree roots die and waste into the river. Sediment builds and the salmon can't build their nests so cutting down the forest kills the lying of eggs.

Working as an Environmental Biologist you will deal with the problems of fishing as well as many other environmental issues under such headings as geology, physics and chemistry. You can work in the field or in a lab. Research a plays a large role in any one of the job descriptions. As an environmental biologist you get to find answers to a lot of environmental questions and that can make a big difference in the way we continue to do things.