Pacific salmon are among the world’s most iconic fish. Prized for their flavor, appearance, and nutritional value, salmon are always in demand.
Salmon fisheries employ a wide range of fishing gear, including purse seines, haul seines, gillnets, traps, troll gear, rod and reel, handlines, and other equipment.
In North America, commercial fishermen harvest five species of wild Pacific salmon:
- Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
- Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
- Keta Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
- Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
In North America, more Pacific salmon are caught in even-numbered years than odd-numbered years because pink salmon, are less abundant in even-numbered years.
In Canada, pink, chum, and sockeye salmon are typically the most abundant species. In Alaska, sockeye and pink salmon are the primary species landed, followed by chum salmon. in Washington, Oregon, and California (WOC), Chinook, chum, and coho salmon are typically the most abundant species landed.
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