Originally seen in Fish’n Canada’s Week in Review

Salmon were in the news again this week as the BC floods continue to add to the stressors facing the province’s struggling salmon population.

These floods, and their increasing frequency, however, have also resurfaced a finding from October that has linked hybrid salmon that were discovered in the area to a different type of climate event.

The species in question (and pictured above) was a mix between a Chinook and a Coho, caught in an area very familiar to us here at Fish’n Canada, Vancouver Island’s Cowichan River. As reported by the CBC, the fish was not only a rare hybrid, it was also second-generation – meaning that Coho-Chinook hybrids are successfully reproducing in the river.

Unlike the issues that are currently facing the Chum, the cause of this rare cross is a result of low water, not high.

According to local biologists, periodic droughts in the area over the last few years have pushed the fall spawning season of the Chinook later into the season, directly coinciding with the arrival of the Coho. This has resulted in some significant intermingling, evidently enough to produce multiple generations of fertile hybrid fish.

Although the fish are likely here to stay, the unique species has yet to receive a name. What do you think the name should be?

Choho? Chonook?

Let us know in the comments below!

This excerpt was taken from Fish’n Canada’s Week in Review, our weekly recap of all things relevant to the Canadian outdoorsman. For more stories like this, check out the full article below and tune back in every Friday to catch up on everything you missed!