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‘Ocean ranching’ has led to a pink-salmon boom — but there might be a catch

Unintended interbreeding between hatchery-bred and wild-born pink salmon could reduce resiliency of fish stocks.
  1. Alix Soliman
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Salmon raised in captivity and released into rivers bound for the North Pacific are breeding with wild salmon, raising concerns among scientists about the fishes’ future. A new study1 published this month on pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in Alaska predicts that such interbreeding will increase the size of the species’ population but decrease its diversity. This could change mating behaviours in wild fish, making them less resilient to climate change and other disasters.

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Nature 632, 239-240 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02483-6

References

  1. May, S. A. et al. R. Soc. Open Sci. 11, 240455 (2024).

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  2. McMillan, J. R. et al. Fish. Manag. Ecol. 30, 446–463 (2023).

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