Juvenile Sablefish Surge Threatens Young Salmon Survival

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Climate change brings juvenile sablefish into Northwest coastal waters, creating new competition with young salmon at their crucial life stage.

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Juvenile sablefish consume larger prey and eat more food than salmon of the same size, as discovered through stomach content analysis.

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2020 data reveals sablefish outnumbered young Chinook salmon 4:1 and coho salmon 13:1 in coastal waters from Oregon to Washington.

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Young salmon face reduced feeding success when sablefish appear nearby, though scientists remain uncertain whether disruption or predator avoidance drives this behavior.

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Ocean warming trends favor sablefish population growth while potentially threatening salmon survival rates in their early marine phase.

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Fishing crews have recently reported catching many smaller adult sablefish, indicating successful juvenile survival in coastal waters.

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Research shows climate change creates unexpected challenges for marine life as sablefish continue competing with salmon for resources.

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