Oncorhynchus tshawytscha: the fish king of the “Beaver State”
by Ariana Wilson
This week, we welcome an out-of-state finned friend from the North — Oregon’s state fish, the chinook salmon. The most significant and valuable species of Pacific salmon, with its common name originating from the Chinookan peoples. Known by many other names, including king salmon, quinnat salmon, spring salmon, blackmouth, and tyee salmon.
These salt and freshwater dwellers are native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, from California to Alaska, as well as rivers in Asia, from northern Japan to northeast Siberia. After hatching, these salmon typically spend one to eight years in the ocean before returning to their home rivers to spawn. Chinook salmon spawn in larger and deeper waters compared to other salmon species and can be found on their spawning nests from September to December.
Last year’s historic dam removal project on the Klamath River has resulted in a flourishing population of chinook salmon in Oregon’s river basin. The last time chinook salmon were seen in the Klamath was in 1912, over 100 years ago.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the chinook salmon population along the California coast is experiencing a decline due to overfishing, habitat loss in freshwater and estuarine areas, hydropower developments, unfavorable ocean conditions, and various hatchery practices.
For sport anglers, a large chinook salmon is a prized catch.These fish are known for their nutritional value, although some populations of chinook salmon are endangered, many others remain secure. The species has not yet been assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
Ari is a senior journalism major and the science editor this semester, with an adoration for the environment and conservation. She is currently pursuing her scientific diving certification and plans to meld her journalistic passions with scientific research in the future. For any science inquiries, please contact ajw167@humboldt.edu.
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