Chinook Salmon

The Chinook salmon (*Oncorhynchus tshawytscha*) is the largest species of Pacific salmon and an anadromous fish native to the North Pacific region.

The Chinook salmon (*Oncorhynchus tshawytscha*) is the largest species of Pacific salmon and an anadromous fish native to the North Pacific region. It is valued as a food and sport fish and is known by several common names, including king salmon and spring salmon. Some populations are listed as at risk in Canada and the United States.

Description

Chinook salmon are large salmonids with black spots and a distinctive black gum line in the lower jaw. Adults can reach very large sizes, although average size varies widely among populations. They are the largest of all Pacific salmon species, and individuals can exceed 57 kg (126 lb).

Distribution and habitat

This species is native to the North Pacific region and western North American river systems. Their range includes the Pacific coast of North America, from California to Alaska, including British Columbia. Juveniles use freshwater streams, estuaries, and wetlands before migrating to the ocean. They have also been introduced elsewhere, including the Great Lakes and New Zealand.

Life cycle and feeding

Chinook salmon are anadromous and semelparous, meaning they migrate between saltwater and freshwater and usually die after spawning once. Juveniles eat insects and crustaceans, while adults mainly eat other fish. They are born in freshwater, grow in the ocean, and return to freshwater to spawn.

Conservation

Several Chinook salmon populations have declined because of habitat loss, migration barriers, overfishing, water use, genetic impacts, salmon farming, and climate change. Conservation status varies significantly by population and region. In Canada, some populations are listed as threatened, endangered, special concern, or data deficient.