Doubly significant salmon!

[killdeer43]

I photographed this female Sockeye coming up the falls a couple of days ago and it's significant because it's a wild salmon, and not a hatchery fish.

Hatchery fish are missing the adipose fin (the little one between the dorsal and the tail) and this one is clearly intact.
This species is also rarely seen on the creek.

Love those lucky shots.
Joe

 

[taabru45]

I just learned something new....Thanks Joe...I hope the wild salmon have a major resurgence and soon.....and I'd like to see the 'farmed' salmon in containers on land rather than endanger the wild species in the ocean...they need to be controlled.....Steffan

 

[Frosty]

What Steffan said.

And... (another) cool shot, Joe!

 

[killdeer43]

Here's a quick shot of the falls where the salmon test their resolve, after they get past the shoulder-to-shoulder fishermen, that is.

Lower Falls, Whatcom Creek

Once they get past these falls, it's clear sailing for 2 miles of much calmer water and good nesting habitat. :wink:

Joe

 

[learnintoplay62]

Great shots Joe. I enjoy seeing things on your side of the pond. They aren't much different then us. Sometimes I feel like I'm swimming up stream but hoping to find my resting place too :wink:

 

[CA-35]

Another great shot and good info too! :shock:
Joe why do the hatchery fish lack the adipose fin? By design? Or just a flaw in the gene sequence?

 

[killdeer43]

Another great shot and good info too! :shock:
Joe why do the hatchery fish lack the adipose fin? By design? Or just a flaw in the gene sequence?

The adipose fins are intentionally clipped on the hatchery fish so we can better estimate the numbers of wild fish that return vs. the hatchery stock.
As you can see in the photo, they're easy enough to distinguish.

Joe

 

[Ravon]

Here's a quick shot of the falls where the salmon test their resolve, after they get past the shoulder-to-shoulder fishermen, that is.

Lower Falls, Whatcom Creek

Once they get past these falls, it's clear sailing for 2 miles of much calmer water and good nesting habitat. :wink:

Joe

That looks like a good place to put a dam. :mrgreen:

 

[killdeer43]

That looks like a good place to put a dam. :mrgreen:

:shock:

Joe

 

[Ravon]

Just kidding!.....great picture as always

 

[killdeer43]

Just kidding!.....great picture as always

It's all good.
Not too worried about a dam right there anyway.

Thanks,
Joe