A report from the Anchorage Daily News today details the story behind last year's catch of an Atlantic salmon...in Alaska. I'm not sure why they waited a full year before breaking this story. Apparently Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have been considered a threat to Alaskan and Canadian fisheries for some time. There is concern that the introductions, most likely accidental ones from saltwater fish farms, will lead to decreases in populations of native fish and other sport fish. Ironic considering the projects currently underway to preserve populations of this species on the Atlantic coast.
This reminds me a lot of the story of the introduction of the nutria (Myocastor coypus), a South American rodent, to the southeastern U.S. It seems like no matter how careful people are, there should always be a contingency plan for when the introduced critters escape, because they always do. But perhaps my view is biased because I never hear stories about the ones that don't escape...anyone?
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