Pink salmon catches in Nunavik raise red flags for biologists

Two pink salmon were netted in Nunavik during the summer of 2019. These are the first official recordings of the invasive alien species in Quebec, according to Nunatsiaq News.

Pink salmon have already been sighted in the Canadian western Arctic, as well as in Scotland and England. Since 1960, pink salmon have been observed in Norwegian waters, after Russia introduced pink salmon fry in rivers draining into the White Sea in northwest Russia.

Because of the spread of pink salmon, wildlife officials fear the species could put extra pressure on wild Atlantic salmon stocks from new parasites and diseases.