Global salmon populations are in trouble. Here's how the trend affects Canadians
Salmon populations are decreasing around the world, including on Canada's West Coast, a trend that is having ripple effects in the country, a biology professor says.
A new Concordia University study shows salmon, trout and related fish known as salmonids have declined globally by nearly 40 per cent since 1980. The study was published in the journal Fish and Fisheries. It is based on data from more than 1,000 rivers and streams in 27 countries involving 11 salmonid species. The fish sampling noted in the data occurred from 1937 to 2021.
'Although some fisheries are doing well, on average not doing so well,' said James Grant, a professor of biology at Concordia University in Montreal, who is a co-author of the report, told CTV Your Morning in an interview Monday.
Salmon species are in trouble not only on the West Coast.
'On the East Coast, the Atlantic salmon has been in decline for a long time,' Grant added. 'We no longer fish them, and even the sport fishing industry is primarily catch and release because the numbers are so low. So huge economic costs we are paying.'
The salmon's plight is also detrimental in other ways.
The loss of fish is devastating for Indigenous Peoples across the country who have close relationships to these fish, including those on the West Coast who built their cultures around Pacific salmon, Grant said.
Fishing is one of the top hobbies for all Canadians, he added.
'It generates money for our economy and makes us feel better about the world,' Grant said. 'These fish are also great indicators of ecosystem health.'
In a May 27 press release from Concordia, lead author Kyleisha Foote noted that the sharp decline is not surprising but it's hard to determine the exact cause. She said many rivers are suffering from serious issues related to habitat degradation, climate warming and overexploitation.
Watch the video above for the full interview.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Carney says Canada-U.S. trade talks may extend beyond Aug. 1 deadline
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump meet at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press) Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that Canada's negotiations with the United States might not conclude by Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline as the president added new trade measures that could further hinder some Canadian businesses. Carney said talks have been complex, comprehensive and constructive. He also said they are ongoing and cover 'a broad variety of topics.' 'There are many areas for co-operation between Canada and the United States, including defence spending, security spending, investments, which is one of the reasons why we're having these broader discussions,' Carney said at a news conference in Ottawa. Trump sent a letter to Carney threatening to impose 35 per cent tariffs if Canada doesn't make a trade deal by Friday. The White House has said those duties would not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA. The Canadian economy is also being slammed by Trump's Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles. Trump on Wednesday signed executive orders for 50 per cent tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Friday. The president, however, didn't include imports of the refined metal in his order, leaving many in the Canadian copper industry feeling relieved. In a separate order, Trump suspended de minimis exemptions — which had allowed packages worth $800 or less to ship to the United States to avoid tariffs. As part of his reasoning for the change, Trump cited the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Federation of Independent Business President and CEO Dan Kelly said suspending the de minimis exemption 'is bad news for many Canadian small businesses.' The federation's data shows about one-third of small Canadian exporters used the exemption to ship to U.S. consumers duty free, Kelly said in a post on social media. Pascal Chan, the vice president of strategic policy and supply chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said it adds 'another layer of uncertainty for Canadian businesses exporting to the U.S.,' particularly small- and medium-sized businesses. 'Any increase in compliance costs and delivery delays will only serve to compound the pressure on the cross-border supply chains that have long fuelled our shared economic prosperity,' Chan said in a statement. The latest trade changes comes as countries around the world are set to face staggering tariffs when Trump's deadline to make deals passes. Trump announced a deal with South Korea Wednesday which will see the country slapped with a 15 per cent tariff. The president said South Korea 'will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President. In apost on social media Trump said South Korea will also 'purchase $100 Billion Dollars of LNG, or other Energy products.' In a separate post the president also said he 'concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves' but Trump didn't provide details of a tariff rate. Frameworks of deals have previously been announced for the European Union, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom — with all nations facing some level of baseline tariff. Not all the details of the deals are clear but Trump has said countries can 'buy down' the tariff rate and most agreements have come with announcements of billion-dollar investments. Trump on Wednesday also escalated his threats against Brazil — which will be hit a 50 per cent duty — and India — which will face a 25 per cent tariff, plus an additional import tax because of India purchases Russian oil. Trump has been dismissive of conversations with Canada, saying it is not a priority for his administration. The president said Wednesday that America's northern neighbour is a high-tariff nation, misrepresenting Canadian duties for agriculture imports. 'They've been charging our farmers 200 per cent, 300 per cent, 400 per cent for years and nobody did anything about it,' Trump told reporters. Carney met virtually with his cabinet earlier Wednesday for a meeting focused largely on the situation in the Middle East. Carney said Canada is seeking the best deal for Canadians and that negotiations will continue until that is achieved. He said Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, will remain in Washington with senior officials 'in pursuit of that goal.' With files from Catherine Morrison This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025 Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Maternity health providers in B.C. lament shortage of qualified workers
Expectant parents in B.C. are facing maternity staffing shortages. As CBC's Hanna Petersen reports, maternity doctors say the existing workforce is spread too thin.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Very unbearable': Okotoks man facing chronic pain impacted by national painkiller shortage
Health Canada is warning that some prescription painkillers might not be available because of an ongoing drug shortage. Health Canada is warning that some prescription painkillers might not be available because of an ongoing drug shortage. Tony Heembrock was injured in a workplace accident in 2020 and takes Percocet for the chronic pain. While working, he used to take two to three pills a day, but because of a national painkiller shortage, he's down to his last two. 'It's very unbearable. I know I've become more withdrawn from my son, who lives here with me and his friends when they come over, and my family. I just sort of keep very low-key and try not to do anything and participate in life anymore. It shouldn't be that way,' Heembrock said. Since his accident, he's developed chronic migraines and a heart issue. These conditions put him in a hard spot because he's unable to use many Percocet alternatives available due to their side effects. Health Canada says the country is experiencing a shortage of both acetaminophen with oxycodone and acetaminophen with codeine. This includes: Teva-Oxycocet; Apo-Oxycodone/Acet; Rivacocet; and Teva-Lenoltec No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4. 'The shortage is the result of manufacturing issues affecting one major supplier, which has increased pressure on other manufacturers. While the supply situation is expected to improve by mid-August, supply constraints are expected to continue until the end of September,' said the Canadian Pharmacists Association in a statement. Tony Heembrock was injured in a workplace accident in 2020 and takes Percocet for the chronic pain. Tony Heembrock was injured in a workplace accident in 2020 and takes Percocet for the chronic pain. In the meantime, pharmacist Randy Howden suggests talking to your physician or pharmacist. 'It's really helpful for us as patients around these products that they call us before they're completely out of their medication, to give us a bit of time to figure it out. They shouldn't panic. There are some alternatives that can be figured out for them. It just might take a bit of time, because pharmacies will need to talk to the physicians,' Howden said. Howden believes more drug suppliers and better communication from Health Canada would make a situation like this better in the future. 'One thing that we are seeing in Canada over the last decade or more is more single-source or only dual-source products, and what that means is you get one shortage of one manufacturer and all of a sudden you have no product,' said Howden. Howden says the drugs usually stop coming into the pharmacies and then the notices from the Canadian Public Health Association or Health Canada come afterward; there's usually a lag in reporting. 'We're seeing that with other drugs as well right now. Pharmacists are actively managing shortages all the time,' said Howden.
