The capture of a pink salmon in Natashquan in July raises fears of the arrival of this invasive species from Russia which could be catastrophic for Atlantic salmon and native trout from Quebec.
“It was the sixth individual identified since 2019. The pink salmon is getting closer and that worries us,” comments biologist Anick Drouin, expert in aquatic fauna at the Ministry of the Environment, the fight against climate change, fauna and parks.
It was on July 21 that the ministry launched an alert after identifying a pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Following an accidental capture in Natashquan. It was the second case in four years on the North Shore. The other individuals had been identified by much further northern Inuit in Ungava Bay in 2019 and 2021.
Pink salmon captured by fly fishermen in the United States.
Photo Wikipedia Jack Roberts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Conquest of Europe
Originally from British Columbia, where it is well suited to its ecosystem, the species has become invasive after being introduced in Russia in the 1950s. “Breeders have selected the most robust and the fastest growth, to the point of creating an extremely invasive population”me Drouin.
Annick Drouin is a biologist at the Directorate of Aquatic Habitates and Risk Prevention at the Ministry of the Environment.
Photo MELCCFP
Exhausted with aquaculture basins in the northwest of Russia, especially in the Kola peninsula, the salmon colonized Europe via the North Sea. All of Scandinavia was won over, then the rivers in the United Kingdom and France followed. He continued his world tour passing through Greenland.
Its reproductive faculty is such that in just two years, the population in Norway increased from 13,900 salmon in 2019 to 1 million in 2023. Last year, this country carried out massive slaughter to reduce the risks on local species.
“In Norway, they eliminated 250,000 adult salmon hoping to limit its progression,” sums up Mme Drouin.
Ecological disaster
To understand the effects of its introduction into the North Atlantic and in the St. Lawrence Basin, you should know that this species reaches its maturity in just two years. As with Atlantic salmon, adults will lay in river and larvae drift towards the sea. The salmons are constantly eating to reach the size of 50cm and a weight of 2kg in 18 months (against four to six years for Atlantic salmon). Competition with native salmonids for food and reproduction sites is already played on unequal arms, but it is after the Fraie that the biggest problem appears.
The public is invited to report to Quebec any observation of this sought -after species.
Photo MELCCFP
“Adults die by thousands after reproduction, which causes large amounts of decaying organic matter,” summarizes Mme Drouin.
The message it wishes to deliver to the population is as follows: report the ministry to allow the fauna agents to well measure the progression of the species. “If you are a fisherman and you capture one, photograph him and contact us,” she pleads.
Even photos dating from several years could be useful.
The pink salmon of the great lakes does not worry
A population of pink salmon taken from British Columbia was introduced into the Great Lakes in the 1950s. It is still found today in the upper lakes, Huron, Ontario and Érié, but it does not represent any risk of invasion. It is the Russian subpopulation that worries, due to the characteristics obtained by the aquacultors.
Unusual years
His two -year cycle ensures that Quebec observations were made in the odd years from 2019. We therefore expect new observations in 2025.
Good for fishing?
The pink salmon offers a good challenge for the fisherman and his flesh is perfectly edible until reproduction.
Do you think you have captured a pink salmon?
Take a picture of it and, if possible, freeze the whole specimen and communicate without delay with the ministry.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 1 877 346-6763
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