Chinook Salmon: The King Of Fish

Chinook salmon have a very long journey from their time as eggs to when they end up on your plate. Like the rest of the Pacific salmon species, they hatch in streams or rivers and then leave their freshwater birthplace for the ocean, where they live for many years before returning to their home streams to spawn. All of those stories about salmon fighting the current and swimming upstream just to lay eggs? Completely true. King salmon are known for epic journeys to reach their home streams, some traveling more than 2,000 miles upriver in less than two months. Though young king salmon aren't very large at all, in just a short time at sea, the fish are known to double and triple in size, becoming the 40 and 50-pounders so popular with commercial and recreational fishermen alike.

With the renewed interest in conscientious consuming and a great deal of attention paid to whether or not it's sustainable to eat certain types of fish right now, commercial sportsmen and hungry diners will be equally happy to know that not only are this type of salmon safe, they're considered the best choice. This rating comes from Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch information, which actually recommends wild-caught king salmon from Alaska in particular.

In addition to their natural habitats, Chinook salmon have also been found to thrive when introduced to foreign locales (either on purpose or when they escape from hatcheries). They're currently thriving in such faraway places as Patagonia, which is about as far south in South America you can get without reaching Antarctica, and also in some of the Great Lakes, where they were introduced to control an algae overabundance. Regardless of where in the world they are, Chinook salmon are easily because of their black spotting and coloration, which is why they are sometimes known as blackmouth salmon, too. When the fish are in fresh water, their coloration is brighter, with more reds and coppers. While in the ocean, king salmon appear more silvery blue-green.

The Chinook salmon population is extraordinarily well-monitored, with careful management in place to make sure that these fish are not over-harvested. There are also strict quotas thanks to the Pacific Salmon Treaty, so there's no chance of overfishing. Thanks to these rules and regulations and the responsibility of the fishermen of Southeast Alaska, there's a great chance that these remarkable and gigantic fish will be around for a long time.

By: Allie Moxley

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The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has accurate, up to date information on the alaskaseafood.org/information/species/">fish species off the coast of the most northern state.