Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Overstocking the Pacific Ocean?

Recent article arguing that Alaskan hatcheries are overstocking pink salmon in the northwestern Pacific. Too many fish competing for food, so other salmon are growing more slowly. Really interesting on the dangers of overstocking on a scale unimaginable for us pondmeisters!

By the way, Alaskans absolutely hate farmed salmon, as increased supply means lower prices for wild caught. Personally, I think farming, especially in land locked areas, is better for the environment & more efficient. Salmon is perhaps the healthiest protein we can eat, protecting heart & brain.

I can't help but be amused when they say climate change is making it worse, as warming northern Pacific waters helps pink salmon thrive. Later, though, they go on to say these same warming waters cause other salmon populations to flourish! Clearly any climate change must be harmful, irrespective of the facts in their own article.

https://www.popsci.com/environment/too-much-salmon/

It is quite a sight to see those fish returning back to where they were released. We have seen that a couple of times at a hatchery in Valdez. Fish so thick it looks like you could walk on them, all trying to get back to where they were released. Watched the boats with big seine gather some up out in the bay.

Their must truly be a ton of salmon available as my dog has been eating a dog food that uses only salmon as the protein source. It has other plant based added ingredients as well (peas, etc) I'm trying to go grain free to see if it helps his terrible itching but I think it is just Michigan allergies that truly gives the itching. But thinking how many bags of salmon based dog food they crank out it truly must be available. So far grain free hasn't helped so I might go back to what fits the budget.

Of course if they are feeding those salmon in big farms tons of 'grain' then the dog might still be eating a high grain diet!!

The bigger question you need to ask is what part of the salmon is making it to the dog food bags?

I understand that diatomaceous earth powder in their food will help rid of skin problems in dogs….

Last time I went salmon fishing in British Columbia, the guides complained about how the Canadian government has managed the fishery. Alaska has done far better in this regard. There definitely has been a decline in maximum size of king salmon, likely due to excessive harvest.