U.S. Water News
KHABAROVSK, Russia -- The loss of salmon runs in this
area
of far eastern Russia may be the result of similar
environmental problems that have prompted the salmon decline
in the northwest U.S., according to Oregon State University
scientists who have teamed up with Russian researchers to
study the Asian area's changing environment. The Oregon
researchers recently launched the project by spending three
weeks on rivers in Russia's far east.
"We both have salmon, and we both have problems, and there
are things we can learn from each other on both sides of the
Pacific," said Jeff Rodgers, a fish biologist with the
Center for the Analysis of Environmental Change at Oregon
State. Rodgers, together with center director Michael
Unsworth and fish biologist Daniel Bottom, focused their
study on the Bikin and Khor rivers, tributaries of the
Ussuri and Amur rivers.
The goal of the project, commented Bottom, was to develop a
working relationship with Russian scientists by helping to
restore fisheries while determining how their counterparts
might relate to environmental problems in the U.S. Because
of the instability of the Russian economy, Bottom said he's
concerned about the region. "It seems to be very vulnerable
and ripe for abuse because it's hard to tell who has control
of what in terms of resources," he said. "So it makes it
very easy for foreign corporations to come in if they're
interested without a lot of restriction."
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