Submission 0182-FOSTER

Submitter: Jenny Foster

Community: Nanaimo

Date Submitted: September 13, 2010

Summary:
The commission should investigate recent changes in interactions between Fraser sockeye and their predators, with a special focus on Humboldt squid.

Submission:
Changes in our ocean dynamics have brought us new predators in the past few years. For example, the Humboldt squid appeared in our waters around Vancouver Island in massive numbers in 2007 - the same time that these 2009 Fraser River sockeye were migrating from the river to the open ocean.

This is a unexpected variable and may explain why that year was drastically different than most others.

I recommend the Cohen Commission look at changes in predator/prey interactions with a special focus on variables such as the Humboldt squid.