"Millions of Salmon Disappear From Canadian River"

"WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Millions of sockeye salmon have disappeared mysteriously from a river on Canada's Pacific Coast that was once known as the world's most fertile spawning ground for sockeye.

Up to 10.6 million bright-red sockeye salmon were expected to return to spawn this summer on the Fraser River, which empties into the Pacific ocean near Vancouver, British Columbia. The latest estimates say fewer than 1 million have returned.

The Canadian government has closed the river to commercial and recreational sockeye fishing for the third straight year, hitting the livelihood of nearby Indian reserves."

Rod Nickel reports for Reuters August 14, 2009.

See Also:

"Salmon Return to Cleaner Paris River" (Reuters)
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