The Catch Of The Day - Pacific Salmon
Knute Hogan, The Culinarian, May 2007

When considering Pacific salmon there are five different fish; Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye, and Pink, and each fills distinct niches in the seafood market. The fish can be found in a wide range following the eastern coast of the Pacific Ocean from Northern California to Alaska and as far south as Japan.

Like many other types of fish the Pacific salmon have several names and as a result identification can be confusing. Chinook is most often referred to as King salmon but is also called Blackmouth, Chub, Hook Bill, Tyee among others; Coho is labeled Silver; Chum are sometimes called Calico, Keta, Dog or Silverbrite; Sockeye carry two colorful names of Red and Blueback, land locked Sockeye is called Kokanee; Pinks are also named Humpback. Different characteristics allow for easier identification but can sometimes be subtle. Kings are easily identified by it black spots on its tail and upper half of the body and its black lined mouth. Coho are bright silver with small black spots on its back. Chum look similar to Sockeye but develop large teeth to better distinguish themselves, The Sockeye have no spots which separates them from Kings and Coho, Pinks are the smallest of the salmon with coloring of metallic blue/green to silver sides.

All these salmon are anadromous fish in that they hatch in fresh water, spend part of their life in the ocean and return to fresh water to spawn. The arduous trip can cover as many as 2,000 miles in rivers or streams or as in the case of Pinks salmon only a few miles from the coast, Sockeye tend to prefer river systems with lakes. Little is known about the salmon's navigating system that brings them to their particular spawning ground; theories include navigation triggered by smell, the sun or the earth's magnetic field. After the spawning cycle is complete the fish will die, usually within a week or two.

There are five basic requirements for successful, healthy fish populations; an abundant food supply, available spawning habitat, ocean habitat, clean oxygenated water and other salmon. Should one of these vital factors be significantly disturbed or destroyed the fish population will be seriously compromised.

Over fishing can have a noticeable impact on the fish population, combine that with influences made upon the spawning habitat and water quality and the fish stocks will decrease rapidly. Dams present a real problem for the return of spawning salmon; fish ladders are needed for the salmon to make their way past the dams and its turbines to continue the trip up river, water levels down stream from dams need to be kept at a level that will allow the water temperature to remain cold, silt deposits can build up covering the preferred rocky bottom where nests are built. Too few fish as a result of poor fishing and land management practices will likely make it more difficult for the fish to regenerate an abundant population to continue into the future. Clearly, responsibility falls to all water users to maintain healthy salmon fisheries.

The life cycle of salmon will include a one to three on average in fresh water before migrating downstream to the ocean, Chums and Pinks spend very little time in fresh water moving to salt water as soon as they become free swimmers and they can interbreed, the hybrid are not fertile however. Newly hatched salmon will locate themselves in areas of fresh water camouflaged by seaweeds, woody debris or rocks that will protect them from predators. While in their ocean phase of life the salmon will grow rapidly feeding on a variety of organisms like herring, squid, small shrimp, as well as aquatic plants. The fish will spend anywhere from three to six years in the ocean although there are some will return to fresh water after only one year, these are called "jacks" and are quite small weighing only a few pounds each. The returning male salmon develop a humped back, a pronounced hooked upper jaw called a kype with large teeth, the coloring both sexes will change to hues of red, orange and in some cases black. The fish will not feed on their return trip to spawn having stored enough fat and nutrients to complete the migration.

Sockeye and Pink salmon are the preferred fish for canning, and, although very plentiful, Chums have been considered the least viable of the salmon stocks. Developing Asian markets have recently increased demand for Chums. These three types of salmon are most often harvested using purse seines and gill nets. The Chinook and Coho are both highly prized due to their high quality, flavor and size. They are caught mainly using hook and line troll methods that keeps the supply level high enough to maintain its desirability. All salmon are high in Omega 3 fatty acids making them an excellent heart healthy diet choice.

The commercial and sport salmon fisheries of the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska are important to the economic health throughout the region providing income to thousands of households. Seasonal workforces such as these can be left in peril without serious thought being applied to the use and management of resources that have influence upon their livelihoods.

Keeping these fisheries, which have existed for centuries, alive and healthy will provide a viable income for the industry and a healthy protein choice to a hungry world.