Mass Salmon, Plankton, Sea Star Die Off in Pacific Northwest: No One Mentions Radiation

Mass Salmon, Plankton, Sea Star Die Off in Pacific Northwest: No One Mentions Radiation
The mysterious die-off of young salmon heading out to sea in the Pacific Northwest, along with far lower plankton levels than normal, have many scientists shaking their heads in disbelief and concern since not one mainstream ‘expert’ has mentioned radiation as a possibility.

than normal, have many scientists shaking their heads in disbelief and concern since not one mainstream ‘expert’ has mentioned radiation as a possibility. But sometimes silence speaks the loudest.

One scientist, Karlista Rickerson, collects and investigates water samples in Seattle and King County, home of copious salmon, yet she noticed her most recent samples contain far less plankton than she would expect to see this time of year. This accompanies a recent phenomenon of sea star die-offsthat locals in the area are observing.

Rickerson theorizes that there has been a surge in the creatures that feed on the microorganisms — creatures that typically fall prey to sea stars. She doesn’t know what is causing the break down in the food chain, though.

“There are too many questions. All I can do is ask more,” she said.

Tribal groups and scientists are now looking closer at planktonin Canada, too. If the supply of plankton is off due to some ‘mysterious factor’ like radiation poisoning, then the die off of young salmon when they enter Puget Sound from their native rivers could be explained. Baby salmon eat plankton, as well as the smaller fish, and if it isn’t growing then the salmon have no food source. No matter what the cause, scientists need to figure out what is disrupting the food chain and causing plankton levels to be so low.

Another concerned citizen, Lori Saldana has recently embarked on a research cruise over a two week duration to collect water samples aboard the R/V Point Sur to determine how plankton levels fair from the Bering Sea off Alaska and northern Pacific, then back to California. She found some interesting details in the first twelve hours of collection, but more information is forthcoming:

“. . .we gather water samples and look for plankton and trace amounts of mercury and cesium-the first, a persistent and toxic pollutant, the second, a radiation marker linked to the Fukushima accident.”

The mass salmon die off also comes at a time when other animal die-offs are occurring off West Coast shorelines. Meanwhile, experts say they are testing the water for radioactive isotopes, and finding nothing. Who is telling the truth? What is going on here?

About Christina Sarich:
	Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga.

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