The “salmon run” describes the journey adult salmon undertake from the ocean back to their freshwater birthplaces to reproduce. This natural phenomenon is a part of their life cycle, as they return to spawn in their birth rivers and streams. This instinct-driven migration ensures the continuation of salmon populations.
Understanding Salmon Run Geography
Salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they live most of their adult lives in saltwater but migrate to freshwater to spawn. This life cycle dictates their geographical distribution, concentrating salmon runs in two major ocean basins: the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
In the Pacific Ocean, salmon runs are prominent along the coasts of North America, from Alaska to California, and across Asia, including Siberia, Japan, and Korea. The Atlantic Ocean hosts salmon runs in rivers along the eastern coast of North America, from the northeastern United States through Eastern Canada, and across Northern Europe, including Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Pacific Salmon Migratory Pathways
Pacific salmon encompass several distinct species, each with specific migratory patterns and preferred spawning grounds along the North American and Asian Pacific Rim. All Pacific salmon species die after spawning.
Chinook Salmon
Chinook salmon, also known as King salmon, are the largest Pacific salmon species. Their runs are found in major river systems from Alaska, through the Pacific Northwest, and into California. Key locations include Alaska’s Kenai, Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Susitna Rivers, British Columbia’s Campbell River, the Columbia River basin spanning Oregon and Washington, and California’s Sacramento and Klamath River systems. Historically, winter-run Chinook in California’s Sacramento River spawned in upper tributaries, but dams now limit access.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye salmon, also called Red salmon, are recognized for their vibrant red color during spawning. Major sockeye runs occur in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. In Canada, the Fraser River in British Columbia is a significant destination for sockeye, with fish traveling over 1,200 kilometers inland to spawn. Washington state rivers, such as the Cedar River, also host sockeye runs.
Coho Salmon
Coho salmon, or Silver salmon, are widely distributed along the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska south to California. They also have populations in parts of Asia. In Washington, coho can be observed in rivers like North Creek and the Duwamish River.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon, often called Humpy salmon due to the pronounced hump developed by males during spawning, are the most abundant Pacific salmon. They are notable for their biennial runs, with distinct populations spawning in odd or even years in many regions. Their runs are widespread in coastal rivers from Alaska to Washington, and across the northern Pacific in Asia, including Siberia and Japan. Pink salmon often spawn in rivers closer to the coast, though some travel further upstream in larger systems.
Chum Salmon
Chum salmon, also known as Dog salmon, have an extensive range across the North Pacific. Their runs extend from Alaska south to Oregon. In Asia, they are found in rivers across Siberia, Japan, and Korea. Chum salmon are among the last Pacific salmon to return to freshwater to spawn, from late October to March.
Atlantic Salmon Run Destinations
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) constitute a single species with a distinct migratory range within the Atlantic Ocean basin. Unlike Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon can survive spawning and return to the sea to reproduce again.
In North America, Atlantic salmon runs are found in rivers along the eastern seaboard. Populations exist in Eastern Canada, including rivers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Newfoundland, such as the Exploits River. In the Northeastern United States, wild Atlantic salmon populations are now restricted to rivers in central and eastern Maine, including the Penobscot River.
Across Europe, Atlantic salmon inhabit rivers flowing into the North Atlantic. Their range extends from northern Portugal and Spain in the south, northwards through France, Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, reaching as far northeast as the Pechora River in Russia.