"Warm Blob" Killing Fish

Salmon numbers are down to an all time low in the US and scientists believe that a warm spot in the ocean , called the 'warm blob' might be the reason.  Water there is running 3 °C

photo of Chinook salmon  via

warmer than usual in what scientists are calling an 'alarming decrease' and 'troubling news'.

Salmon fisherman cannot recall a time when salmon were in such short supply in US waters.
 Scientists are unsure what is causing the blob but suspect it will remain in the area for another year or so. They do not attribute the warmth to so-called global warming at all.
 Fishermen are also concerned about a return of El Nino  which could further warm the waters and change the face of fishing.
El Nino, the child, is defined as 'an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December." according to Wikipedia.

US government sources, however, admit that Fukushima has impacted the US  with results seen in the food chain and especially in populations of seals  with radiation burns and sickness all along the west coast.  The polar bear, whale, sea star and walrus populations are also being badly effected with unusual health problems.

We are seeing a dramatic increase in health problems since the Fukushima melt down.
Record lows for Chinook or King salmon and pink salmon have been reported since at least 2011 and is worsening since the plume of radioactivity reached the US West Coast and Alaska.
 NOAA scientists were queried as to the reason for diminishing fish catches since the incident at Fukushima but  have refused to comment.

According to the  Juneau Empire,
"When asked about the potential impact Fukushima may be having on king salmon stocks in the Gulf of Alaska and elsewhere in the state, Orsi  would not comment. “I’ve been told to refer you to the (Environmental Protection Agency),” he said, “Because I’m not an expert on the topic.” Calls and emails to the EPA were not returned in time and digging on the federal agency’s site revealed no current information on radiation from the Fukushima disaster. The last posted monitoring results occurred in June of 2011."
 Joe Orsi is a fisheries research scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Since the article appeared the situation has only gotten worse.
 In California's Salmon River salmon are dying because the river water temperatures have soared and the water is too warm for the chilly temps loving fish.