Barriers to Range Extension of Atlantic and Pacific Salmon in Arctic North America

Abstract

The long arctic coastlines between Alaskan salmon stocks and the Mackenzie River, and between Atlantic salmon of Ungava and Hudson Bay, are seen as major barriers to range extension as the rivers on these coastlines are not capable of being colonized. The potential of subarctic fresh water as spawning and nursery areas for anadromous salmon may be worth testing in the Hudson Bay and Mackenzie drainages. The possible reasons for exclusion of sockeye, chinook and coho salmon from arctic Alaskan coastlines and Atlantic salmon from arctic coastlines in northern Quebec are discussed. The arguments are based upon the North American situation but may have some bearing on the situation in northern U.S.S.R. The rapidity with which civilization is modifying northern waters is emphasized.