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Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Status | Species Description | Habitat | Distribution | Population Trends | Threats | Conservat

Taxonomy | Key Documents | More Info

Status

ESA Endangered - 2 ESUs

ESA Threatened - 7 ESUs*

ESA Candidate Species - 1 ESU

ESA Species of Concern - 1 ESU

*Snake River fall-run ESU under review for delisting

The Sacramento River winter-run chinook is one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight

Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Spotlight Species 5-Year Action Plan

West Coast Regional Office salmon management program

Recovery plan for Central Valley salmon and steelhead trout

Other NOAA Fisheries Species in the Spotlight

Species Description

Weight: 40 pounds (18 kg), but can be up to 120 pounds (55 kg)

Length: considered mature at about 3 feet (1 m)

Appearance:at sea, they are blue-green back with silver flanks

Lifespan: they spend 3 months-2 years in freshwater and about 2-4 years at sea

Diet: insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and mainly fish as adults

Behavior: adults migrate from a marine environment into the freshwater streams and rivers of th

birth in order to mate ("anadromous")

Chinook salmon are very similar to coho salmon in appearance while at sea (blue-green back with

flanks), except for their large size, small black spots on both lobes of the tail, and black pigment alo

base of the teeth.

Adults migrate from a marine environment into the freshwater streams and rivers of their birth in ord

mate (called anadromy). They spawn only once and then die (called semelparity).

They feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young, and

primarily on other fishes when older.

Populations exhibit considerable variability in size and age of maturation, and at least some portion

variation is genetically determined. There is a relationship between small size and long distance of

migration that may also reflect the earlier timing of river entry and the cessation of feeding for Chino

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salmon stocks that migrate to the upper reaches of river systems. Body size, which is related to age, may

be an important factor in migration and spawning bed, or redd, construction success.

Juvenile Chinook may spend from 3 months to 2 years in freshwater before migrating to estuarine areas

as smolts and then into the ocean to feed and mature. Chinook salmon remain at sea for 1 to 6 years

(more commonly 2 to 4 years), with the exception of a small proportion of yearling males (called jack

salmon) which mature in freshwater or return after 2 or 3 months in salt water.

There are different seasonal (i.e., spring, summer, fall, late-fall or winter) "runs" in the migration of Chinook salmon from the ocean to fre

even within a single river system. These runs have been identified on the basis of when adult Chinook salmon enter freshwater to begin 

spawning migration. However, distinct runs also differ in the degree of maturation at the time of river entry, the temperature and flow

characteristics of their spawning site, and their actual time of spawning. Freshwater entry and spawning timing are believed to be related

temperature and water flow regimes.

Adult female Chinook will prepare a redd (or nest) in a stream area with suitable gravel type composition, water depth and velocity. The a

female Chinook may deposit eggs in 4 to 5 "nesting pockets" within a single redd. Spawning sites have larger gravel and more water flow

through the gravel than the sites used by other Pacific salmon. After laying eggs in a redd, adult Chinook will guard the redd from just a f

to nearly a month before dying.

Chinook salmon eggs will hatch, depending upon water temperatures, 3 to 5 months after deposition. Eggs are deposited at a time to en

young salmon fry emerge during the following spring when the river or estuary productivity is sufficient for juvenile survival and growth.

As the time for migration to the sea approaches, juveniles lose their parr marks, the pattern of vertical bars and spots useful for camoufla

then gain the dark back and light belly coloration used by fish living in open water. Chinook salmon seek deeper water, avoid light, and th

and kidneys begin to change so that they can process salt water.

Two distinct types or races among Chinook salmon have evolved.

One race, described as a "stream-type" Chinook, is found most commonly in headwater streams of large river systems. Stream-type Chi

salmon have a longer freshwater residency, and perform extensive offshore migrations in the central North Pacific before returning to the

or natal, streams in the spring or summer months. Stream-type juveniles are much more dependent on freshwater stream ecosystems b

of their extended residence in these areas. A stream-type life history may be adapted to areas that are more consistently productive and

susceptible to dramatic changes in water flow. At the time of saltwater entry, stream-type (yearling) smolts are much larger, averaging 3 t

inches (73-134 mm) depending on the river system, than their ocean-type (subyearling) counterparts, and are therefore able to move off

relatively quickly.

The second race, called the "ocean-type" Chinook, is commonly found in coastal streams in North America. Ocean-type Chinook typicall

to sea within the first three months of life, but they may spend up to a year in freshwater prior to emigration to the sea. They also spend t

ocean life in coastal waters. Ocean-type Chinook salmon return to their natal streams or rivers as spring, winter, fall, summer, and late-fa

but summer and fall runs predominate. Ocean-type Chinook salmon tend to use estuaries and coastal areas more extensively than othe

salmonids for juvenile rearing. The evolution of the ocean-type life history strategy may have been a response to the limited carrying cap

smaller stream systems and unproductive watersheds, or a means of avoiding the impact of seasonal floods. Ocean-type Chinook salmo

migrate along the coast. Populations of Chinook salmon south of the Columbia River drainage appear to consist predominantly of ocean

fish.

Chinook salmon are easily the largest of any salmon, with adults often exceeding 40 pounds (18 kg); individuals over 120 pounds (55 kg

been reported. Chinook mature at about 36 inches and 30 pounds.

Habitat

Juvenile Chinook may spend from 3 months to 2 years in freshwater before migrating to estuarine areas as smolts and then into the oce

feed and mature. They prefer streams that are deeper and larger than those used by other Pacific salmon species.

Critical habitat has been designated for the 9 ESA-listed Chinook salmon ESUs.

Distribution

In the U.S., Chinook salmon are found from the Bering Strait area off Alaska south to Southern California. Historically, they ranged as far

the Ventura River, California. Maps of the 17 ESUs of Chinook salmon are available on the NMFS West Coast Regional Office website.

Chinook salmon also occur along the coast of Siberia and south to Hokkaido Island, Japan.

Population Trends

In recent years, some populations have shown encouraging increases in population size. Population trends for specific ESUs can be fou

2005 status review report for Pacific salmon and steelhead [pdf].

state fish of Alaska.

King salmon is anot

name for this specie

because of their larg

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Threats

Various human-induced and natural factors

Conservation Efforts

A variety of conservation efforts have been undertaken with some of the most common initiatives including:

captive-rearing in hatcheries

removal and modification of dams that obstruct salmon migration

restoration of degraded habitat

acquisition of key habitat

improved water quality and instream flow

For the

The Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established by Congress in 2000 to support the restoration of salmon specie

oversee the fund, and state and tribal governments carry out the fund.

Regulatory Overview

In 1985, NMFS received a petition to list the winter run of Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River under the Endangered Species Act (

1990, they were listed as Threatened. NMFS received another petition to list this population as Endangered and this occurred in 1994.

In 1990, NMFS received a petition to list Snake River Chinook; two ESUs from this river were listed.

After these listings and receiving other petitions to list Pacific salmonids, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Southwest

Fisheries Science Center launched a systematic review of all West Coast salmon runs. A detailed listing history of all Chinook salmo

is available on the NMFS West Coast Regional Office website.

Critical habitat has been designated for the 9 ESA-listed Chinook salmon ESUs.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Osteichthyes

Order: Salmoniformes

Family: Salmonidae

Genus: Oncorhynchus

Species: tshawytscha

Key Documents

(All documents are in PDF format.)

Title Federal

Register

Spotlight Species 5-Year Action Plan n/a 01

Appendices for Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon 1

Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon 0

Draft Recovery Plan for Northern California Steelhead, Central California Coast Steelhead, and California

Coastal Chinook

1

ESA Listing Rules, Critical Habitat Designations, and other Chinook Federal Register Notices various v

Recovery Plan for winter-run Chinook, Central Valley spring-run Chinook and Central Valley Steelhead 79 FR 42504 07

Not Warranted 12-month finding on petition to list Upper Klamath and Trinity Rivers Basin DPS

» Petition to List Upper Klamath DPS under the ESA

77 FR 19597 04

Species of Concern Fact Sheet: Detailed n/a 06

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Fact Sheet Highlights

n/a 08

Recovery Plan for Upper Columbia Spring-run Chinook 72 FR 57303 10

Recovery Plan for Puget Sound Chinook 72 FR 2493 01

Status Review Update of All ESA-Listed ESUs n/a 0

Final 4(d) Protective Regulations for Threatened Salmonid ESUs 65 FR 42422 07

5-year reviews v

More Information

NMFS West Coast Regional Office Chinook Salmon ESU Information

NMFS Critical Habitat

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries

Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary Chinook Salmon Species Card

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CyberSalmon Chinook Salmon Information

Updated: February 10, 2016

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