Spill Event: Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Location: Marine Areas of Washington State and British Columbia, and potentially southeast Alaska and Oregon.

Description: This project is the response to the salmon spill which occurred on August 21st from Cooke Aquaculture fish farm at Cypress Island, near Anacortes, Washington. It is an effort to track the impacts of the spill by mapping locations where Atlantic Salmon are harvested as well as any observations by LEO Network members.

Background: Thousands of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) were accidentally released on the 20th of August, 2017 from Cooke Aquaculture fish farm between Cypress Island and Anacortes, Washington, and Washington State officials are asking for the public's help in catching them. The purpose of the present project is to record observations and catches of these escaped Atlantic Salmon, or other escaped Atlantic Salmon.

Observing Protocols: Observers are asked to share information (date, location, habitat, life stage, catch method, weight in lbs or kg, condition, number, and other description and comments) and photos on sighting of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in Washington State, British Columbia and Southeast Alaska, and Oregon.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada operates an Atlantic Salmon Watch Program: "The purpose of the program is to study the abundance, distribution and biology of Atlantic salmon in British Columbia and its adjacent waters. The ASWP monitors reports from commercial and sport catches and observations of Atlantic salmon throughout British Columbia. The program relies on recreational and commercial fishers, fish processors, government and independent field staff and hatchery workers to report observations of Atlantic salmon."

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is asking residents to report Atlantic salmon harvests from Alaskan waters. In addition to posting on LEO, please visit the Alaska Invasive Species Reporter or call the Invasive Species Hotline: 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748).

Inputs: LEO Network Observations, Other data sources of Atlantic Salmon spotting.

Outputs: LEO Network observations will be added to the project map. LEO observations also available to the Atlantic Salmon Watch Program.

Project Updates: The August and September 2017 LEO BC Webinars will include an update on this project.

Resources:

Atlantic Salmon Catch Map, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

News Release, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife -- "OLYMPIA – State salmon managers are encouraging anglers to fish for thousands of Atlantic salmon that escaped recently from a salmon farm near the San Juan Islands."

News Release, Lummi Nation -- Lummi declares state of emergency to address Atlantic salmon spill in treaty fishing waters

Atlantic Salmon Watch Program, Fisheries and Oceans Canada -- The purpose of the Atlantic Salmon Watch Program (ASWP) is to study the abundance, distribution and biology of Atlantic salmon in British Columbia and its adjacent waters.

Atlantic Salmon Identification Guide, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Atlantic Salmon, Wikipedia

Atlantic Salmon, Fishbase

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