Climate change has brought increasing numbers of juvenile sablefish to the Northwest coast’s waters, creating problems for young salmon. Over the past 20 years, large numbers of juvenile sablefish have moved into coastal waters from central Oregon to northern Washington, competing with salmon for food during a crucial stage of their life. “They are around the same size as juvenile salmon, but they can eat bigger prey and much more prey than salmon can at the same size,” explains Elizabeth Daly, an ecologist with the NOAA-Oregon State University Cooperative Institute. The numbers tell a concerning story. In 2020, juvenile sablefish … Continue reading Juvenile Sablefish Outnumber Salmon 13:1, Threatening Northwest Coastal Ecosystem