Invasive Atlantic Salmon Escape West Coast Fish Farm, Now Roaming The Pacific

Photo: Eric Kilby on Flickr.

Thousands of invasive Atlantic salmon are on the loose in the Pacific Ocean, and the results could be catastrophic. However, you can help alleviate the invasive Atlantic salmon escape and feed yourself at the same time.

According to the Seattle Times, up to 305,000 Atlantic salmon broke loose from a local Washington farm last weekend. The salmon are currently heading to the Pacific Ocean, and many are likely already out there flourishing.

The salmon made their escape following a net breakage at a fish farm belonging to Cooke Aquaculture. Interestingly, the company blames the eclipse for high tides that gave the fish ample opportunity to break loose. Initially, estimates of Atlantic salmon loss stood at 4,000 to 5,000 fish. However, the company now fears that hundreds of thousands of fish could have escaped.

Because Atlantic salmon are not native to the Pacific, environmental damage could possibly occur. Environmentalists are particularly concerned about the Atlantic fish mating with Pacific Chinook salmon and stealing their food. Estimates put the environmental fallout between moderate and very serious, according to the Guardian.

To help alleviate the problem, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to help catch the Atlantic salmon. If you have a fishing license, you can catch as many Atlantic salmon as you please.

Hopefully, this will help prevent too many invasive fish from harming the Pacific Ocean’s natural environment.