Species: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Pink Salmon
Species

    Almost cylindrical body; rounded snout barely projects beyond upper lip when viewed from below; large horizontal mouth; thick lips (lower lip about twice as thick as upper lip); lower lip with deep notch in middle; 0-3 rows of papillae at middle of lower lip, 2-6 rows of papillae on upper lip; fewer than 75 scales in lateral series; brownish to blackish back becomes gold in breeding male, which also often has a scarlet stripe on each side. Juveniles often have three or more dark blotches on their sides (as do some adults). As adults, pink salmon are the smallest of the Pacific salmon. Total length up to 64 cm.

    Articles:

    Abundance of pink salmon may be harming orcas

    Pink salmon now comprise nearly 80 percent of all adult salmon in the North Pacific. This record abundance is coming at a cost to other salmon species such as threatened Chinook, which compete with pinks for spawning territory. A new study shows that the ecological toll may extend all the way to endangered southern resident killer whales.

    Underwater view of many fish swimming in one direction.
    The role of estuaries in the ecology of adult Pacific salmon and trout in Puget Sound

    The extensive loss or modification of estuaries throughout Puget Sound creates a significant challenge for adult salmon as they migrate to their natal streams to spawn. A 2024 report by University of Washington scientist Thomas Quinn looks at how different species of salmonids use estuaries to move from marine to freshwater environments. The report was commissioned by the University of Washington Puget Sound Institute with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program.

    Report cover with text and image of salmon swimming underwater.
    The role of estuaries in the ecology of juvenile Pacific salmon and trout in Puget Sound

    This overview describes the different ways that juvenile Pacific salmon and trout use estuaries, and why those differences are important for ecosystem recovery efforts. The report was commissioned by the University of Washington Puget Sound Institute with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program.

    Aerial view of Puget Sound showing multiple rivers and inlets. The text reads ‘The role of estuaries in the ecology of juvenile Pacific salmon and trout in Puget Sound’ by Thomas P. Quinn from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington.
    Surging numbers of pink salmon raise ecological concerns

    An estimated 80% of all the salmon in the North Pacific are pink salmon. Scientists say the extreme abundance of pinks could be causing a "trophic cascade" that is harming species across the food web.

    A stream full of hundreds of swimming salmon.
    Opening the door for coho, chum, and pink salmon

    Restoration managers are hopeful that populations of coho, chum and pink salmon will rebound on the Elwha River as the fish take advantage of newly accessible habitat. Part five of our series 'Returning home' examines the importance of genetically distinct salmon runs.

    Underwater view of a large group of silver and grey fish
    Returning home: The Elwha's genetic legacy

    Following dam removal, migratory salmon have been free to swim into the upper Elwha River for the first time in 100 years. Their actual behaviors and reproductive success may well be driven by changes in their genetic makeup. Our seven-part series 'Returning home' examines how the fish are doing and whether the Elwha's genetic legacy remains intact. 

    View of the Elwha River above the site of the former Glines Canyon Dam in 2021. Photo: Sylvia Kantor
    State of the salmon in watersheds 2016

    A biennial report produced by the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office provides stories and data about salmon, habitat, and salmon recovery in Washington, including Puget Sound.

    Salmon smolts. Photo courtesy of Governor's Salmon Recovery Office
    Shoreline armoring's effect on the food web

    The removal of shoreline armoring in Puget Sound has become a priority for state and federal agencies, but until recently there have been relatively few scientific studies of armoring's local impact. New research looks at the pronounced biological and ecological effects of these common shoreline structures, especially for tiny beach-dwelling creatures that make up the base of the food web.

    Storm surges against the bulkheads protecting beach houses at Mutiny Bay, WA. Photo: Scott Smithson (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/dtwpuck/15725058917
    2014 state of salmon in watersheds executive summary

    This report documents how Washingtonians have responded to the challenges of protecting and restoring salmon and steelhead to healthy status. It also serves as a tool to summarize achievements, track salmon recovery progress through common indicators, and identify data gaps that need to be filled.

    2014 state of salmon in watersheds report cover
    2012 state of salmon in watersheds executive summary

    Salmon recovery demands both dedication among people with different interests, and sustained resources. This biennial report tells the story of the progress made to date and the challenges ahead.

    2012 State of Salmon in Watersheds Executive Summary report cover
    Foraging differences between male and female harbor seals present challenges for fisheries management

    A 2015 article published in the Marine Ecology Progress Series identifies intraspecific differences in diet between harbor seals in the Salish Sea, suggesting implications for marine reserve management. 

    Harbor seal photographed by Andreas Trepte. Available through a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 license.
    Brighter future for salmon at downtown seawall

    The decaying seawall along Seattle’s waterfront is providing scientists with an opportunity to improve long-lost habitat for migrating salmon. It could also show the way for habitat enhancements to crumbling infrastructure worldwide. One University of Washington researcher describes the project.

    Seattle's central waterfront at sunset. Photo: Michael Matti (CC BY-NC 2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmattiphotography/9090323308/
    Juvenile Pacific Salmon in Puget Sound

    This technical report produced for the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership on Valued Ecosystem Components (VEC) summarizes existing knowledge of salmon use of nearshore habitats in order to help protect and restore these habitats.

    School of juvenile chinook/king salmon. Photo: USFWS/Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_alaska/6479109041/
    Methods and Quality of VSP Monitoring Of ESA Listed Puget Sound Salmon and Steelhead: With Identified Critical Gaps 2012
    Download a November 2012 assessment of monitoring of viable salmonid population (VSP) criteria. 
    Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Image courtesty U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Kingdom
    Animalia
    Phylum
    Craniata
    Class

    Actinopterygii

    Order

    Salmoniformes

    Family

    Salmonidae

    Genus

    Oncorhynchus

    Classification
    Other Global Common Names
    saumon rose
    Informal Taxonomy
    Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Salmon and Trouts
    Formal Taxonomy
    Animalia - Craniata - Actinopterygii - Salmoniformes - Salmonidae - Oncorhynchus - Phylogenetic analysis based on mtDNA data indicates a sister relationship between pink salmon and chum salmon (Domanico and Phillips 1995).

    Almost cylindrical body; rounded snout barely projects beyond upper lip when viewed from below; large horizontal mouth; thick lips (lower lip about twice as thick as upper lip); lower lip with deep notch in middle; 0-3 rows of papillae at middle of lower lip, 2-6 rows of papillae on upper lip; fewer than 75 scales in lateral series; brownish to blackish back becomes gold in breeding male, which also often has a scarlet stripe on each side. Juveniles often have three or more dark blotches on their sides (as do some adults). As adults, pink salmon are the smallest of the Pacific salmon. Total length up to 64 cm.

    Short General Description
    A salmon, adults averaging about 0.5 meters long; breeding male develops humped back.
    Habitat Type Description
    Freshwater
    Migration
    true - true - true - Anadromous. Prior to spawning most adults return to the river, or tributary, in which they hatched (there is some possibly contradictory evidience from Russia). Adults move into fresh water June-September, depending on latitude. Freshwater migrations generally are less extensive than are those of other Pacific salmon (Heard 1991).
    Non-migrant
    true
    Locally Migrant
    true
    Food Comments
    Migratory fry usually do not feed, but if they are traveling long distances they eat aquatic insect larvae. Juveniles schooling in estuaries feed on zooplankton. At sea, juveniles eats small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Adult diet includes mainly fishes, squid, euphausiids, amphipods, and copepods (Moyle et al. 1989).
    Reproduction Comments
    Spawning males defend territories. Spawns usually mid-July to late October (also reported as August-November). Eggs hatch usually from late December-late February, depending on water temperature (Scott and Crossman 1973). Fry usually migrate downstream April-May. Adults die soon after spawning. Two-year life cycle (with rare exceptions). In the Dungeness River in Washington, there is a unique upriver and early spawning stock and a typical lower river late-spawning stock (see Nehlsen et al. 1991). See Stearley (1992) for a discussion of the historical ecology and life history evolution of Pacific salmons and trouts (ONCORHYNCHUS).
    Ecology Comments
    Abundance of spawning populations may differ greatly between years. For example, in the Fraser River in British Columbia, the odd-year run includes nearly 20 million adults whereas the even-year run is virtually nonexistent (Beacham et al. 1994). However, this pattern is not evident in all river systems. <br><br>Young form schools in estuaries before moving out to sea. Predators of young salmon include: cutthroat and rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, kingfishers, mergansers, etc.
    Length
    61
    NatureServe Global Status Rank
    G5
    Global Status Last Reviewed
    1996-09-12
    Global Status Last Changed
    1996-09-12
    Conservation Status Map
    <img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.BC=S5&CA.ON=SE&CA.QC=SE&US.AK=S5&US.CA=S1&US.MI=SE&US.NY=SE&US.OR=S4&US.PA=SE&US.WA=S2&US.WI=SE" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
    Global Range
    During ocean feeding and maturation, pink salmon range throughout the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea north of about 40 degrees north latitude. Populations originating from different coastal regions of the North Pacific occupy distinct ocean nursery areas. The range shifts southward for winter, northward in warmer months (Heard 1991).<br><br>Spawning occurs in most tributary rivers of northeastern Asia (Korea to Siberia) and in North America from California and Oregon (rare in these states) north to the Aleutian Islands and Mackenzie River delta, Arctic and Pacific drainages. Arctic populations do not appear to be self-sustaining but may be expanding and so warrant monitoring. The species has been introduced in the Great Lakes, Newfoundland, and several European areas.<br><br>In the southern part of the range, the most significant runs are in streams tributary to Puget Sound. This salmon has been recorded from various streams in northern California, but spawning in California has been rarely observed and only in the lower Russian River. Many recent sightings of adults in California may be represent strays from rivers to the north (Nehlsen et al. 1991).
    ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104110