New Research Asks, “Can Pacific Salmon Keep Pace with Climate Change?”

A recent study— the largest of its kind— showed unpredictable changes in juvenile salmon migration timing in response to climate change.

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change has found that salmon migration timing is changing in unpredictable ways in response to climate change. Dr. Eric Ward of NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center was part of a team of scientists across North America, who analyzed data from 66 salmon populations over 70 years.

The study brought together more than over 50 scientists from government and community organizations across North America. Everyone contributed their expertise and data to better understand this important, but often overlooked life stage.

“This is the longest, most detailed dataset of its kind and offers a pretty unique picture into the potential response of climate change across salmon species,” notes Ward.

Climate Change Causes Earlier Salmon Migration

Many salmon species have migration timing that has substantially changed over the last 20 or more years. The study found that pink and chum salmon had the fastest rates of change (migrating 7 days/decade earlier). Other species’ average migration timing has not changed.

However, a deeper dive into the data showed greater variation between populations […]

Full article: www.fisheries.noaa.gov