The recent discovery of a salmon shark carcass on the bank of the Salmon River in Idaho was cause for alarm, but only briefly.
The recent discovery of a salmon shark carcass on the bank of the Salmon River in Idaho prompted a quick investigation by state biologists.
“First Smallmouth Bass, then Walleye, and now SALMON SHARKS! When are our salmon and steelhead going to catch a break?” the Idaho Department of Fish and Game complained Wednesday in a news release.
But was the agency really concerned?
Yes, a fairly large salmon shark was found on the bank near Riggins. But no, the state does not have a shark problem.
More from the news release, written by Joe DuPont:
“By the look of it, this does appear to be a Salmon Shark. Salmon Sharks can grow up to 10 ft long and weigh up to almost 1,000 pounds. As indicated by its name, Salmon Sharks like to feed on salmon. So, should we be concerned with this shocking discovery and potential impacts to our salmon and steelhead populations?
“Well………. seeing no sharks have been observed swimming up our fish ladders lately, and the only known shark that can live in freshwater is the Bull Shark, I think it is safe to assume that somebody dropped this on the shore for a good laugh. I certainly have laughed about it. This would have been a great April Fools’ Joke.”
The mention of smallmouth bass and walleye alluded to genuine threats those nonnative species pose to salmon and steelhead.
–Generic salmon shark image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
A large salmon shark swam alongside a whale-watching vessel for several minutes last Friday off Southern California, to the astonishment of passengers and crew.
A large salmon shark swam alongside a whale-watching vessel for several minutes last Friday off Southern California, to the astonishment of passengers and crew.
They were astonished not merely because of the shark’s proximity, but because they could not initially figure out what type of shark they were watching.
“All I knew was that it was something that I hadn’t seen before,” Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a whale researcher and research associate with the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, told For The Win Outdoors.
Salmon sharks, far more prevalent off Alaska, are not commonly spotted off Southern California. But their features – including a broad head and pointy snout, and white pigmentation on and near their gills – are distinctive.
The sighting occurred at 11:02 a.m. in mid-channel between Oceanside and the east end of Santa Catalina Island, during an all-day whale-watching trip aboard the Ocean Adventures out of Dana Wharf Whale Watching.
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Capt. Steve Burkhalter initially thought it was a mako shark before getting a closer look and noticing the peculiar characteristics, according to the Orange County Register.
Schulman-Janiger said there was no Internet service for hours, so nobody could research the sighting.
She texted a video clip to Eric Mailander, a longtime shark enthusiast, but the video did not reach Mailander until 4:27 p.m., as the vessel approached the shore and Internet service was restored.
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Two minutes later, Mailander’s response reached Schulman-Janiger’s phone: “Salmon shark! You are so lucky!”
While the sighting was unusual, salmon sharks do frequent Southern California waters seasonally.
Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, told For The Win Outdoors that he was not surprised.
“The Southern California Bight is the spring nursery and pupping grounds for white sharks, mako sharks, salmon sharks, common thresher and blue sharks,” Lowe said.
“Due to its high spring productivity this is where most of these sharks migrate thousands of kilometers to come here to give birth to their young, which use their first summers to take advantage of the warmer waters and greater food availability to tank up and grow rapidly.”
Lowe added: “Salmon sharks tagged in Alaska are known to migrate from the Gulf of Alaska to Hawaii and Southern California to give birth and then migrate back to Alaska to feed.”
Schulman-Janiger said other sharks were spotted during the whale-watching trip, but they were fleeting glimpses and the sharks could not be identified. Passengers did enjoy a prolonged “mugging” by a minke whale, and saw fin whales and gray whales, along with two types of common dolphins.
“But most people were talking about the shark all day,” she said.
Salmon sharks, which can measure 10-plus feet, prey largely on salmon, sea otters, squid, sea birds, and several fish species.
