Scientists: Iron in ocean could help salmon

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published August 8, 2001

PORTLAND -- Want more salmon? Just add iron.

Scientists say elevated iron levels from shifting currents along Oregon's central coast may foreshadow a regional salmon comeback over the next decade.

Researchers have long known that iron stimulates phytoplanktons -- tiny plants at the bottom of the food chain -- and creates healthier ocean environments.

But now, marine biologists from Oregon State University say a pressure system moving toward the state's coast has stirred up iron-rich sediments that usually sit deep on the ocean floor. The system shifts every 10 to 25 years, they said.

The phytoplankton, which use iron for photosynthesis, thrive and provide more food for zooplankton. The zooplankton in turn are eaten by juvenile salmon entering the Pacific Ocean from the Columbia River.

That could mean an upsurge in Oregon's share of salmon in the coming years, said Ricardo Letelier, an Oregon State University researcher.

"You will see a change in the way you mix water at the surface and the way you see nutrients at the surface," he said. "If we are correct, we could expect a recovery of salmon."

Scientists from OSU and the University of North Carolina are using a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to map areas of high iron concentration. They hope to better understand the relationship between currents, iron levels and healthy sea life -- including salmon.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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