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Coastal Movements of Adult Fraser River Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Observed by Ultrasonic Tracking
Author(s) -
Stasko A. B.,
Horrall R. M.,
Hasler A.D.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1976)105<64:cmoafr>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - oncorhynchus , fishery , environmental science , oceanography , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , geology
Abstract Forty‐three adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fitted with ultrasonic transmitters were tracked in coastal waters near the Fraser River in July and August, 1967 and 1968. Movement patterns of individual fish were unpredictable. Some moved actively in appropriate directions, some drifted passively, still others travelled southward away from their presnmed destination. Fish released in pairs did not travel along similar paths. Active fish moved generally northward toward the Fraser River, keeping away from shore and following axes of tidal currents. There was little straying into bays and channnels with slow currents. Some fish remained active both during the day and at night, while others became inactive after sunset or when the sun was not visible behind clouds. Average ground speed was about 1 body length/s (61 cm/s). Orientation to geoelectric fields is postulated, along with a compass‐related orientation northward.