Pacific Salmon and the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

Pacific salmon are an important part of Canada’s heritage. The commercial sockeye salmon fishery was fundamental to the early economic development of British Columbia. Today’s salmon fisheries continue to provide benefits to coastal communities and First Nations along the west coast. Salmon are also the primary target of a large and valuable recreational fishery.

Conservation and good management of Canada’s Pacific salmon requires strong scientific understanding of the stocks and effective enforcement. Pacific salmon are anadromous; they are born in rivers and streams, and migrate to the ocean, before returning to freshwater sources to spawn. Salmon that swim beyond Canada’s 200-mile zone and spend the longest time on the high seas are the most vulnerable to ocean conditions and fishing activities. Despite an international ban on fishing salmon on the high seas, someone needs to be out there to enforce this rule.

The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission is the regional fisheries regime that ensures the conservation of salmon on the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean. Canada, the United States, Russia, Japan and Korea are all members. The Commission provides a forum for members to work together to promote scientific research and exchange information. Members also cooperate to stop illegal fishing of these stocks.

Scientists from NPAFC member countries have identified two key areas that need to be researched to improve knowledge of the marine ecosystem, fisheries management and salmon conservation. Current status and trends in ocean productivity and the way ocean conditions affect salmon populations is one area. The impact of climate and climate change on salmon stocks is the other. The NPAFC began a five-year science plan in 2006 to focus on these two areas.

NPAFC conservation measures have been particularly effective in reducing illegal fishing for salmon on the high seas, and minimizing bycatch. Members of the Commission are allowed to board, inspect and detain fishing vessels of all NPAFC members that are found violating the rules. Fishery officers from Canada and the United States conduct aerial patrols of a 4.1 million square kilometre area of the North Pacific as part of NPAFC's surveillance efforts. Dubbed ‘Operation Driftnet’, these annual missions are carried out using Canadian Air Force patrol aircraft.

All six species of Pacific salmon from Canada migrate to the high seas: sockeye, pink, chum, coho, chinook, and steelhead. Some populations of sockeye, chinook, chum and steelhead have particularly long migrations that may extend to the Asian side of the Pacific Ocean. Pink and coho salmon remain closer to the North American coast, but they may still spend much of their lives in waters outside Canada's jurisdiction. International collaboration that occurs through the NPAFC is thus essential to the management of Canadian salmon.

Salmon found in Canadian waters and on the high seas in the North Pacific Ocean

Sockeye Salmon – The best known Pacific salmon in Canada, sockeye was the first salmon species commercially harvested in British Columbia and canned in quantity. Its red colour and rich oil content is likely due to a diet of shrimp and other crustaceans.

Chinook Salmon – The largest of Pacific salmon species, Chinook are known by many other names: King, blackmouth, quinnat, and chub. They’re also often called "spring" salmon because the species returns to rivers earlier than other Pacific salmon. Chinook are piscivorous species, which means they eat other fish.

Pink Salmon – The most abundant of salmon species in BC, pinks have a lifespan of only two years. Their bright, pink-coloured flesh is a result of a diet of nearly invisible animals called zooplankton.

Coho Salmon – There are more distinct populations of coho than any other salmon species in BC. Coho are found most often along the coastline. The species has a tendency to be very swift and active, making fishing for coho a fun challenge for sport fishers.

Chum Salmon– The least sought-after salmon species, chum are found throughout the Pacific Rim and as far away as Japan and Korea. Chum are not very agile, and they are poor jumpers. As a result, obstacles that do not prevent other salmon species from migrating (such as waterfalls) can often stop the chum.

Steelhead Trout– While considered a trout species in the past, steelhead are now generally considered to be Pacific salmon. Unlike Pacific salmon, however, some steelhead spawn more than once.

More information on Pacific salmon is available on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Region web site.