Scientific evidence fails to support the extinction hypothesis

[Fresh]

Perspectives on pink salmon and sea lice: scientific evidence fails to support the extinction hypothesis (.pdf)

Here?s one you?re not likely to see in the MSM

Abstract: Using a Ricker (1975) model and escapement data for a subset of Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia watersheds, Krko?ek et al. (2007) predicted that sea lice infections originating on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farms will cause the extinction of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the archipelago by 2010. The purpose of this paper is to examine this issue in the context of all of the escapement data available for the archipelago and to review additional scientific reports and information not discussed by Krko?ek et al. (2007). Additional research during the last five years is not consistent with the Krko?ek et al. (2007) conclusion that sea lice routinely cause in excess of 80% mortality of fry. Rather the literature reviewed herein indicates that pink salmon fry mount an effective immune response at sizes as small as 0.7 grams resulting in the rapid shedding of lice within two weeks. Pink salmon returns are shown to be highly variable throughout the Northeast Pacific in areas without salmon farms. Following periods of high abundance, pink salmon populations typically fall to low levels and they may remain depressed for several generations. However, in most cases, the populations then gradually increase to begin the cycle anew. An examination of returns to all of the documented Broughton Archipelago watersheds indicates that following exceptionally high returns in 2000 and 2001, the populations declined to very low numbers in 2002 and 2003. Contrary to the conclusions reached by Krko?ek et al. (2007), Broughton pink salmon returns have steadily increased since then with no indication that they are threatened with extinction. Other unsubstantiated assumptions used in the Krko?ek et al. (2007) are also discussed in light of additional scientific reports and theoretical considerations. (Kenneth M. Brooks and Simon R.M. Jones)

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