A video released by the NGO Columbia Riverkiper on Tuesday showed a group of salmon swimming in a tributary covered in red lesions and white fungus as a result of stress and exposure to extreme temperatures, the Guardian reported.
The salmon in the Columbia River “boiled almost alive” due to rising water temperatures during a record heat wave in the Northwest Pacific. A group of animal rights activists noticed the disturbing sight.
On the day of the video, the river reached a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius, which is deadly for these fish if exposed to it for a long time. The Clean Water Act prohibits temperatures in rivers from rising above 20 degrees.
This scene is another example of the tragic deaths caused by the heat – a result of climate change. They have already killed hundreds of people in the Northwest Pacific and Canada, probably killing thousands of seafarers. animals and igniting dozens of outbreaks in the region.
But this is not only due to the heat wave, but also because of the numerous dams that slow down the flow of water for decades, causing stagnant water and rising river temperatures.
Tens of thousands of salmon still live in Colombia and the Snake River, and as the rivers warm further over the next two months, many fish will still die. Given that salmon in the Snake River are already considered endangered, the loss of only a small part of its population could have severe consequences.
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