Orientation of Pink Salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) During Early Marine Migration from Bella Coola River System

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Healey, M. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1967
• Subjects: General Medicine; Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; Pink salmon
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f67-188; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f67-188

During May and June 1966, the migration of pink salmon fry from the Bella Coola River was studied in Burke Channel, British Columbia. The movement of pink fry down Burke Channel was saltatory. Short periods of active migration were interspersed with longer periods when the fry did not migrate and accumulated in bays. Fry were sampled from these accumulations and their ability to orient using celestial cues was examined. During the early morning, fry tended to prefer directions at right angles to their direction of migration, but at other times of the day preferred the direction of migration. The preference for the direction of migration was strongest at midday. Fry were better oriented on clear days than on cloudy days. These data indicate that fry may use celestial cues to find directions during their oceanic migrations.