Salmon: Wild Pacific

Coho (Silver salmon), Chinook (King, Spring salmon), Chum (Dog salmon) , Pink (Humpback salmon), Sockeye (Red, Blueback salmon)

Sake, Ikura (roe)

Pacific salmon include several species of fish belonging to the family Salmonidae and to the genus Oncorhynchus. Of the seven members of Oncorhynchus found on the West Coast, five are reviewed. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), and Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). The anadromous trouts (Steelhead and Cutthroat trout) are not reviewed here due to the absence of a commercial fishery.

Salmon have natural reproductive traits that imply a biological resilience to overfishing. They are relatively short-lived animals (two to five years on average) that release large numbers of eggs when spawning, indicating a high potential reproductive rate. However, salmon’s resilience is largely dependant on the freshwater environments. The relatively pristine rivers and streams of Alaska have allowed stocks there to remain resilient to heavy fishing pressure.

Alaskan salmon stocks are augmented by large hatchery operations. While hatcheries can have important conservation uses, there is debate on whether the salmon raised in these hatcheries should be considered for the status of stocks. The fact remains that Alaska has a healthy stock of salmon, so therefore this ranks as a low conservation concern.

The gear employed in commercial salmon fisheries includes drift and set gillnets, purse seines, and trolling gear. When combined with management constraints such as area closures and gear restrictions, the methods used to catch salmon are highly selective for salmon, and overall bycatch rates appear relatively low.

Indirect effect associated with the widespread use of salmon hatcheries for conservation and fisheries augmentation purpose has, in many cases, has degraded the natural habitat of wild salmonids. Despite these facts, the habitat effects of Alaskan salmon is a low conservation concern.

The management of any salmon fishery is very complex and can fluctuate from year to year. Managers of Alaska salmon fisheries assess stocks on a timely basis, typically issuing preseason abundance forecasts and updating regulations as the season progresses. This type of fisheries management is deemed highly effective.

Where is this salmon from?

Only wild Alaska Salmon have a “Best Choice” ranking.

Salmon from BC and Washington State are ranked as “Some Concerns”, while salmon from Oregon and California are ranked “Avoid”.

Adults and kids age 6-12 can safely eat more than 4 meals per month + High in heart-healthy omega-3’s + Kids up to age 6 should eat no more than 4 meals per month + Moderate PCB levels

Yes. First certified as sustainable in September 2000 and recertified November 2007.

5 salmon species have been certified:sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), chum (Oncorhynchus keta), chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)