Common Name	Chinook Salmon	Conservation Notes
Scientific Name	Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Sustainability Ratings/Certifications
Market Names	King Salmon, Spring Salmon	Buying Tips
Sushi Name	Sake	Health/Nutrition

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Chinook Salmon Market Alert - updated May 2012

West Coast trollers were eager to get fishing May 1 for what looks like will be their best king season since 2005. After severe cutbacks the past few years, it looks like  landings off California and southern Oregon will be back up to about 4 million pounds.  That comes on the heel of a very strong spring Chinook run on the Columbia. West Coast fishermen are hopeful that better water management regulations on the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers will lead to a sustained return to historical harvest levels.  

Up in Alaska, Copper River fishermen were forecast to catch about 27,000 of their prized kings from this year’s fishery, which opens May 17th. That compares with last year’s catch of about 20,000 kings.  Out West, the prospects for a Yukon River fishery remain grim after several very poor seasons. Off Southeast, trollers and gillnetters were not happy to see their quota reduced to about 267,000 kings, down from last year’s quota of  294,000 fish.  Trollers off B.C., who landed about 190,000 kings last year, should see also see their catch reduced, in this case to about 165,000 fish.

King prices could be slightly lower than last year if catches off the West Coast pan out as expected. That could put some pressure on Copper River prices, which averaged about $12/lb. FOB Seattle for H&G fish last May. The best deals on kings will be in early July when fish from the Southeast Alaska troll fishery hit the market.  Look for prices in July to dip to $6/lb. FOB Seattle for H&G fish.

Conservation Notes

Life History/Inherent Vulnerability: Chinook salmon have low fecundity, compensated in part by a large number of eggs. Chinook salmon in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon have been particularly susceptible to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, introduced species, overfishing, and dam construction.

Status of Stocks/Abundance: Chinook salmon stocks in Alaska are considered healthy, but Chinook salmon populations in California and Oregon south of Cape Falcon are declining. Of the Chinook salmon populations in the Pacific, two are “endangered,” seven are “threatened,” and one is a “species of concern.” According to scientists, the Sacramento River winter-run Chinook population could go extinct within 50 years.

Fishing Impacts on Habitat: Chinook salmon are caught using gillnets, purse seines, and trolling gear, all of which rarely touches the seafloor so there is little lasting physical impact on these habitats.

Bycatch, Nature and Extent: Endangered winter-run Chinook is often caught unintentionally by fishermen targeting other salmon since it’s difficult to differentiate among the stocks. Bycatch of endangered Chinook is a major concern in California and Oregon south of Cape Falcon. In the Chinook fishery, gillnets can ensnare and kill seabirds diving for food. Overfished rockfish are the highest incidental bycatch.

Management Effectiveness: Management measures in Alaska, which include limits on gear sizes such as boat length and mesh size, are considered highly effective. Despite stringent fishery measures in Washington, Oregon, and California, Chinook populations there are threatened by habitat damage and overfishing, particularly north of Cape Falcon.

Sustainability Ratings and Certifications

	Seafood Watch	SeaChoice	FishWise	Blue Ocean Institute	New England Aquarium	Marine Stewardship Council
Alaska Wild-caught	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Green	A List	Certified
British Columbia Wild-caught		Some Concerns		Yellow
Washington Wild-caught	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Yellow	B List
Oregon, California Wild-caught	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Yellow

Rating Explanation

Seafood Watch currently assesses all Chinook salmon fisheries from Alaska in a single assessment and assesses Chinook salmon fisheries from Washington, Oregon, and California in a separate assessment. Blue Ocean Institute's ratings for Chinook salmon include separate assessments for Alaska, British Columbia and the states of Washington, Oregon, and California together. All Chinook salmon fisheries in Alaska are certified to the sustainability standard of the Marine Stewardship Council.

Buying Tips

• Fresh and frozen is mostly available headed and gutted

• Due to natural variability, there will be major quality differences in wild salmon, no matter how well the fish is handled.
• Learning about specific runs of salmon, more so than specific species, is often the best way to find consistency in wild salmon that fits specific needs.
• There can be considerable price variation with higher oil content fish getting a higher price in the market.
• Because Chinook have such a high oil content, they are often smoked.
• White Chinook salmon get their lighter flesh color because its food source consists of sardines or anchovies compared to pinkier flesh from salmon that consume mostly krill.
• Chinook is graded under 7, 7-11, 11-18, and 18 up. 

Nutrition and Health

Acknowledgements

• Seafood Watch by Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Blue Ocean Institute
• SeaChoice
• Seafood Choices Alliance
• Environmental Defense Fund
• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service