Low water levels and high temperatures have led to masses of rotting fish clogging the Neekas river, before the salmon could spawn the next generation.
. And, for those who live in British Columbia and other parts of the Pacific Northwest—particularly Indigenous communities—the fish are a staple food, central to local culture.“Salmon are drivers for absolutely everything locally,” William Housty, conservation manager for the Heiltsuk First Nation in Bella Bella, said in a phone call with Earther. He said this year’s die-off will have long-lasting impacts for everyone in his community who relies on salmon for food and economic opportunities.
According to Housty, drought is the underlying problem, but it was actually a small stint of rain a couple of weeks ago and a tidal event that likely drew the salmon upstream. Even though conditions weren’t good, the fish rely on environmental cues to dictate their movements. After the small series of showers, the pinks went upriver and quickly ran out of water.Before the mass mortality event, Housty had high hopes for the Neekas system.
Dennert echoed that sentiment. “These are the fish that made it,” she said. After facing warming unhealthy oceans, the threat of fishing and predation, and the perilous journey back to where they hatched—these salmon were the champions. But then they hit a barrier they couldn’t overcome.In a small silver lining, Housty said that maybe all the carcasses washed downstream into the estuary will be good for the Dungeness crabs. “But it’s really unfortunate everything else is missing out.
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