Low-Oxygen Levels Threaten Fish

Although Puget Sound is not known for trout fishing, there is an on-going ecological problem that you may find interesting. Rapid growth and development along areas of the Puget Sound have resulted in water pollution which is now threatening native fish.

This problem was first reported in 2002 and has only gotten worse. In September 2006, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife took their cameras underwater in Hood Canal to help expose the problem.

While the Puget Sound problem is not affecting trout, it does show what can happen if trout habitats are not watched carefully. There are three trout species (Apache, Gila and Bull) that are currently listed as "threatened" on the Federal Endangered list due to similar problems.

Sediment running into nearby streams, rivers and lakes, can reduce oxygen levels in the water (a problem currently threatening Bull trout).

In my eBook, "Trout Fishing Tips", I explain in detail how oxygen levels affect trout metabolism and their ability to survive - and how this in turn affects trout fishing. But in short, trout suffocate without oxygen (very much like the Puget Sound fish).

Many different factors can affect oxygen levels in the water, including:

1. Water temperature
   
2. Sediment and other pollutants
   
3. Aquatic Plants
4. Seasonal changes

For those of us living in warmer climates, trout fishing in the summertime can be challenging. Warmer water temperatures remove oxygen from the water. This poses a problem for trout. Survivability becomes more important than feeding, and trout begin searching for more oxygenated water.

The WDFW video offers a unique glimpse into this underwater problem. While it is difficult to watch, it shows you exactly what happens when oxygen levels are low in the water. For more information, visit the Puget Sound Action Team web.