Article 2: DO U LOve Salmon Fish?

http:www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30322493

More than ten years ago, the first Pacific salmon species was listed under the Endangered Species Act. Twenty-six different salmon species are now listed as threatened or endangered.

How the pesticides can affect salmon life cycle? As we know, pesticides can kill salmon directly, or perhaps more commonly, causes certain damage that reduces their chance of survival. For example:

1. Pesticides can kill fish directly.
Pesticides are capable of killing salmon directly and within a short period of time. For example, in 1996 the Talent Irrigation District’s use of the herbicide acrolein resulted in the death of almost 10,000 salmon and thousands of other fish in Bear Creek in southern Oregon.

2. Pesticides can impair swimming performance.
Swimming ability is crucial for feeding, avoidance of predators, and defense of territories. A number of studies have found that pesticides reduce swimming speed and stamina. Studies found that five different pesticides – carbaryl, chlordane, 2,4-D amine, methyl parathion, and pentachlorophenol – reduced rainbow trout swimming activity and stamina, thereby decreasing their survival ability.

3. Pesticides can increase predation.
Diazinon at very low concentrations can impair a salmon’s sense of smell, resulting in a decreased ability to avoid predators. Salmon need their sense of smell to detect alarm pheromones emitted by other salmon that direct them to hide.

4. Pesticides can harm the immune system.
Pesticides have been shown to depress the immune systems of rainbow trout and other fish species, causing a decreased ability to fight off disease.

5. Pesticides can disrupt the hormonal system.
The endocrine, or hormonal, system is particularly susceptible to disruption because of the low concentrations at which hormones operate. Pesticides at low concentrations interfere with the production and activity of sex hormones in salmon, causing decreases in the production of sperm.

If we really love to our environment, what we can do to save the salmon fish or even other aquatic life that been threatened by pesticides?

a) Each of us has responsibility to ensure the safety uses of pesticides. In addition, pesticides were damage to aquatic vegetation decreases habitat suitability and increase the salmon’s susceptibility to predation.
b) Establish pesticide use reporting for tracking of pesticide use to aid in salmon recovery.
c) Promote salmon-friendly practices that reduce reliance on pesticides.