Pink
salmon run was 2 weeks late this year and then less than normal?
Silvers
are arriving in Valdez Bay as of 7-22-02
There are a number of things that could be having an impact.
It was a dry, late winter.
Illegal high seas drift nets are on the increase.
Even a post-whaling baby boom could be having an impact.
Also, it looks like we are on the other end of the mid 70's regime shift.
We are into what looks like the third year of the colder 20-25 year cycle
which will not be so good for salmon.
It should help shellfish, crab and shrimp,
as well as herring and sand lance.
Of course global climate change is the wild card in the picture.
Information on this has been covered well
at the EVOS Trustee Council conferences
and in their newsletters and annual reports.
Special Edition of the Restoration Update,
Winter 2000, Vol. 7 Number 1,
"Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring".