Submission 0264-PARSONS

Submitter: Timothy R. Parsons

Community: Brentwood Bay

Date Submitted: October 7, 2010

Summary:
A paper by Roberta Hamme reports on the phenomenal growth of a diatom bloom in the Gulf of Alaska starting in 2008. At that time, the salmon returning in 2010 would have been in the midpoint of their growth cycle and could benefit most by the expanded food chain, while the 2009 sockeye would have been ending their period of maximum growth. This may explain the difference in return sizes between 2009 and 2010, and suggests that the forecasting of sockeye returns should be based more on food conditions in the Gulf of Alaska.

Submission:
Please see attached submission regarding productivity in the Gulf of Alaska and possible impacts on Fraser sockeye returns in 2009 and 2010.