What is threatening our native fish?
Climate change. Climate change is the major, overarching anthropogenic threat affecting salmonids in California. It is considered a critical or high threat for 27 of 31 species (87%). It is considered a low threat to only one species, the Coastal rainbow trout. The majority of salmonid species in California is currently facing, or is likely to face, extinction from climate change if present trends continue.
What are the other human-caused threats to our native salmon, steelhead,
and trout?
The population of California is approaching 40 million people. We live in a highly altered natural environment. As such, the human impact on the state’s salmonids were important to include in the SOS II report because:
1. California’s salmonids can adapt to natural environmental change, but that
ability is limited when faced with these human-induced threats.
2. Human-caused threats limit the long-term viability of salmonid populations
by decreasing their resilience to change.
3. Determining which threats have the greatest impact on species can help to
target conservation and restoration efforts, providing a roadmap for a return
to resilience.
The top three human-caused threats, after climate change, vary by anadromous and inland species as would be expected given their different life histories.
The top threats to anadromous species are overwhelmingly estuary alteration, major dams, and agriculture, while inland species face threats from alien species, fire, and hatcheries.
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