While the ES class was visiting the DIPAC salmon hatchery in Juneau Alaska, we were alerted to the impact of sea anemone on juvenile salmon when they first enter the salt water environment. The thin skinned juvenile salmon are captured, held, and killed by the stinging tentacles of the anemone. DIPAC had sponsored divers to go into the Gastaneau Channel and remove anemone from the vicinity of the hatchery.
These actions prompted ES classes between 1998 to 2001 to conduct anemone census where they were doing their open water diving certification. This census was designed to give some indication related to threats to juvenile salmon populations.
Dive groups were asked to swim along a rocky benthoic environment for 20 meters and record the numbers and species of anemone they saw along the transect. These data were linked to location, depth and date. The cumulative record was then linked with sea lice records of juvenile salmon gee trapped.
These actions prompted ES classes between 1998 to 2001 to conduct anemone census where they were doing their open water diving certification. This census was designed to give some indication related to threats to juvenile salmon populations.
Dive groups were asked to swim along a rocky benthoic environment for 20 meters and record the numbers and species of anemone they saw along the transect. These data were linked to location, depth and date. The cumulative record was then linked with sea lice records of juvenile salmon gee trapped.