Hot water kills half of Columbia River sockeye salmon

[countryjake]

23. Another related loss...the Sturgeon...

Dozens of Sturgeon found dead in Columbia River

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/dozens-of-sturgeon-found-dead-in-columbia-river/

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Most of the dead sturgeon in the Columbia River are mature fish, more than 5 feet in length.

At 5 feet, sturgeon are teenagers. More than 6 feet long, they’re in their 20s at least, Langness said. Once they grow to more than 9 feet, they are difficult to age.

“In general, these fish are decades old,” Langness said. Unlike salmon, which die after spawning at 4 or 5 years old, sturgeon can live for 100 years.

Dead sturgeon continue to be spotted floating down Columbia River, which may be a sign that whatever is causing their deaths is not over yet, Hoffarth said.

Columbia River Sturgeon deaths could be linked to diseased Salmon

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/07/columbia_river_sturgeon_deaths.html


Sturgeon, that dark mysterious creature from the dinasaur era, are a federally protected species. (Steven Nehl/The Oregonian)

SPOKANE, Wash. — The mysterious deaths of dozens of giant sturgeon in the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities is prompting state officials to consider closing catch-and-release fishing of the species.

Paul Hoffarth of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says people have reported finding more than 80 dead sturgeon on the river from the Hanford Reach to Boardman, Oregon.

The Spokesman-Review reported all the fish were in the large category, ranging from 5 feet to 8.5 feet long.

Hoffarth says theories for the sturgeon deaths include the possibility that the sockeye salmon they're eating could be diseased from migrating upstream in the Columbia's unusually warm water.

He says another theory suggests the sturgeon are stressed by the combination of dramatically lower flows with higher-than-normal July water temperatures.