The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is worried about what the hot weather might do to the Sockeye returns.Fraser-sockeye-DFO-fshrvr

Lower Fraser area director Jennifer Nener says one of the big problems is the water levels in the rivers, although that’s more of a problem at the end of the trip.

“In the main stem of the Fraser river it’s actually a little bit easier for the fish to swim against the current, but the challenge is the water heats up more quickly. And then the other challenge is when the fish get to the spawning grounds there’s concern about potentially low levels of water there for the fish to make use of and get in to the spawning grounds.”

Nener says the warm water temperature is a bigger issue since it messes with a fish’s metabolism.

“Their body temperatures are the same as the environment around them, and they are adapted to a cold water environment. So when the water gets too warm it actually increases their metabolism and they use up their energy reserves more quickly.”

Nener says it’s to early to assess the impact of the water conditions but overall the forecast is a little under 6.8 million sockeye, which is a touch higher than the return from four years ago.