Pacific salmon, of which there are several kinds, spawn in the streams of southern Alaska, British Columbia and the states of Washington and Oregon on the Pacific coast. There is also one kind which breeds in the streams of Russia’s east coast. The females spawn their thousands of eggs and the males fertilize them.
How far do salmon travel to breed?
Salmon are born in freshwater. They migrate to the ocean before returning to freshwater in order to breed (also called spawning). Some kinds of salmon can travel as far as 1,000 miles (1,500km) upriver to lay their eggs in the same place they were born.
Where do salmon come from in North America?
The North American group, including the Canadian and U. Populations, was historically found from northern Quebec southeast to Newfoundland and southwest to Long Island Sound. In the United States, Atlantic salmon were once native to almost every river north of the Hudson River.
Where do salmon migrate in the winter?
North American Atlantic salmon migrate in the spring from the rivers where they were born. They move into the Labrador Sea for their first summer, autumn, and winter. The following spring they move to the coastal waters of Labrador and the Canadian Arctic, West Greenland, and sometimes to the waters of East Greenland.
Where do salmon go after being born?
The young salmon, called parr, spend one to three years in or very near the stream where they were born. They continue to hunt for food, hiding under and between rocks.
Do salmon return to the river they were born in?
While some straying has been documented, most spawning salmon return to the river in which they were born and sometimes they even home to the very stream of their birth. How many eggs do Atlantic salmon have?
Do salmon go back to the ocean after spawning?
The silvery smolts’ gills and organs change, allowing them to swim to the ocean where they spend 1 to 2 years maturing into adults. The adult Atlantic salmon, or kelt, returns to the river where it was born to lay eggs. After spawning in freshwater, the kelt can swim back to the ocean and possibly return to spawn again.
How old is a salmon when it returns to the ocean?
Typically, an Atlantic salmon returning to U. Waters will be 4 years old, having spent 2 years in freshwater and 2 years at sea. These fish are called “two sea winter fish,” or 2SW, and are usually 28 to 30 inches long and 8 to 12 pounds.
How many types of salmon are there in the world?
There are seven species of Pacific salmon. Five of them occur in North American waters: chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, and pink. Masu and amago salmon occur only in Asia. There is one species of Atlantic salmon. Chinook/King salmon are the largest salmon and get up to 58 inches (1.5 meters) long and 126 pounds (57.2 kg).