Abstract
Unlike other Canadian Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), long-term declines in the size at maturity of Fraser River sockeye salmon (O. nerka) have not been reported in past studies. Using data specific for 10 Fraser River sockeye stocks, we demonstrate that size at maturity has generally declined over the past 42 yr for females in all stocks and for males from eight stocks. Independent of this temporal trend, we found that size at maturity of both sexes in all stocks was smaller in years when sea surface temperatures were relatively warm. Slower growth in warmer years may be caused directly by increased metabolic demand, or indirectly by oceanic changes that influence food acquisition. We speculate that fitness of Fraser River sockeye will be reduced in the future if sea surface temperature increases and salmon abundance remains near present levels.
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