Source link : https://earth-news.info/general/salmon-and-steelhead-extinction-threshold-science-and-the-ocean-fish-of-northeast-oregon-idaho-capital-sun/
As salmon and steelhead populations face mounting pressures from climate change, habitat loss, and fishing, scientists are racing to pinpoint the critical extinction thresholds that could push these iconic Northwest fish to collapse. New research emerging from the Pacific Northwest sheds light not only on the fragile status of these anadromous species but also underscores the vital role of ocean fish communities off the coasts of northeast Oregon and Idaho. This article explores the latest scientific findings on extinction thresholds for salmon and steelhead, while examining how oceanic ecosystems in the region influence their survival, highlighting urgent conservation concerns reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.
Salmon and Steelhead Extinction Thresholds Reveal Alarming Population Declines
Recent studies indicate that the populations of both salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest are perilously close to what scientists call extinction thresholds. These thresholds represent critical points beyond which recovery becomes vastly more difficult, if not impossible. Factors driving these declines include habitat degradation, altered river flows due to dams and water diversion, and changing oceanic conditions fueled by climate change. Alarmingly, some river systems in northeast Oregon and Idaho are witnessing declines of over 70% in returning adults compared to historical averages, signaling a looming ecological crisis.
Conservationists and fisheries…
—-
Author : earthnews
Publish date : 2025-08-20 19:17:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8