How heat waves pose ‘catastrophic’ threats to B.C. salmon – Vernon Morning Star

June 13, 2025

Impact of drought, climate change is ‘glaringly obvious’, says Nation’s wildlife coordinator

During the spring and summer, Meghan Rooney sees firsthand how rising water temperatures affect salmon in B.C. waterways.

At 20 C, salmon slow down and seek refuge in cooler areas, said Rooney, science and communications coordinator for Watershed Watch Salmon Society, a charity that works to defend and rebuild the province’s wild salmon population. When temperatures rise above that, fish start to die from the heat, an issue that goes on to have a ripple effect on many different aspects of life in B.C.

“Salmon are incredibly important, not just for our ecosystems,” Rooney said during a Zoom interview from Port Coquitlam. “They feed our forest. They support many different species. They are important culturally for many Indigenous First Nations in B.C.”

Read More: https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/how-heat-waves-pose-catastrophic-threats-to-bc-salmon-8021263