Spring has sprung in the Pacific North West and everyone is ready to get back on the water! With our first Whale Watch and Wildlife Tour in two weeks time, we are all hoping for a great season. Recent predictions concerning salmon runs should contribute to another wonderful summer. Canada is predicting up to 72 million sockeye salmon to return to the Frasier River this summer, which is far higher than the typical 3-4 million. Chinook and coho salmon are predicted to return in slightly higher numbers this year in Puget Sound with an even bigger run into the Columbia River.
What's causing the hopeful influx of salmon: great ocean conditions. After hatching, young salmon, or fry, will grow in the river and estuaries they were born in before making the journey to the ocean. This process can take days to months. Once in the open ocean, salmon will spend up to 5 years growing before migrating back to the same stream they were hatched in. Salmon prefer cold nutrient rich waters, often an outcome of coastal upwelling. Luckily, the past few years have seen a lot of upwelling, which has allowed salmon born in the last 5 years to grow big and healthy in a near perfect ocean environment.
We can only hope that these predictions come true, both for our Southern Resident Killer Whales and local fisherman. Southern Resident Killer Whales eat almost 80% chinook, which are supposed to return in higher numbers than last year. We are keeping our fingers crossed and can't wait to be back on the water!
Emily
Reservations Manager, San Juan Safaris