Thanks for that question, Mr. Hardie.
I do want to preface my answer with the statement that much further study is needed of the European green crab. We're very much at the preliminary stages of understanding not only the species and how it interacts with our environment, but also what's causing this rapid proliferation, especially along the west coast of Vancouver Island.
I will say that there seems to be a perfect storm of conditions occurring here in southern British Columbia, particularly along the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is contributing to the spread of the European green crab. In areas to the south—in Washington or in California, for instance—where the species has been in existence for far longer than here in British Columbia, they are not seeing that same rapid proliferation that we're experiencing here. We do not yet understand why that is.
To answer the second part of your question about other species that could potentially pose a threat, that also requires further study. However, we are seeing large pelagics that are becoming more common in offshore waters, such as the California yellowtail, and even billfish species like swordfish and striped marlin, and other species of tuna, like bigeye and bluefin, which could all potentially predate on some of the larger salmon or even the juveniles as they migrate through those more offshore waters.
In terms of what to expect and the impacts that some of those larger pelagics may have on salmon, it's very uncertain, but they certainly should be considered a threat at this stage.