Recent research led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has confirmed a phenomenon suspected in existence: salmon are spawning in the frigid waters of Arctic Ocean watersheds. This discovery not only sheds light on the adaptability of these iconic fish but also hints at the profound impact of climate change on their habitat.

The scientists taking part in the research, which was published on the UAF website last fall, found approximately 100 chum salmon in the Anaktuvuk and Itkillik rivers on Alaska’s North Slope. These rivers, which feed into the larger Colville River, ultimately empty into the Arctic Ocean. Remarkably, all the captured fish observed in mid-September 2023 were either actively spawning or had just finished, indicating a successful reproductive cycle.

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The leader of the research team, UAF researcher Peter Westley, says this finding aligns with the hypothesis that salmon are migrating northward as their traditional habitats undergo significant alterations due to climate change. While many established salmon populations in regions like California are dwindling due to warming waters, the Arctic appears to be providing a new haven for these fish.

Westley, an associate professor at UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, noted,

“Throughout most parts of the salmon’s range, things have gotten too warm and they’re starting to blink off.