Chum Salmon
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Fishing Status
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place for chum salmon.Quick Facts
Chum salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Chum salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught chum salmon is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
NOAA Fisheries works in cooperation with federal, state, tribal, and Canadian officials to manage these commercial, recreational, and tribal harvest of salmon and steelhead in ocean and inland waters of the West Coast and Alaska. To learn more about management of these fisheries, visit our West Coast and Alaska fisheries management pages.
However, some chum salmon are also protected under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about protected chum salmon.
Appearance
- Chum salmon is one of the largest species of Pacific salmon, second only to Chinook salmon in size.
- When in the ocean, chum salmon are metallic greenish-blue along the back with black speckles, similar to both sockeye and coho salmon.
- As they enter fresh water, their appearance changes dramatically.
- Both sexes develop a tiger stripe pattern of bold red and black stripes.
- Males develop enormous canine-like fangs and their bodies have a striking calico pattern, with the front two-thirds of the flank marked by a bold, jagged, reddish line and the back third by a jagged black line.
- Spawning females are less flamboyantly colored and do not have fangs.
- When juvenile chum salmon are about to migrate to sea, they lose their parr marks (vertical bars and spots useful for camouflage) and gain the dark back and light belly of fish living in open water.
Biology
- Chum salmon are anadromous—they hatch in fresh water streams and rivers then migrate out to the saltwater environment of the ocean to feed and grow.
- Chum salmon do not reside in fresh water for an extended period (unlike coho, Chinook, and sockeye salmon).
- They can grow up to 3.6 feet and 30 to 35 pounds, but their average weight is 8 to 15 pounds.
- Young chum salmon (fry) typically migrate directly to estuarine and marine waters soon after they are born.
- As they grow larger, they migrate offshore across the North Pacific Ocean.
- As they approach sexual maturity, they migrate back into coastal waters and return to the fresh water area where they were born to spawn.
- They typically spawn between the ages of 3 and 6.
- They spawn from late summer to March, with peak spawning concentrated in early winter when the river flows are high.
- They usually nest in areas in the lowermost reaches of rivers and streams, within 60 miles of the ocean.
- They prefer to nest in areas with upwelling currents to provide oxygen for their developing embryos, and they cover their nests (redds) with gravel.
- In North America, female chum salmon typically have 2,000 to 4,000 eggs.
- All chum salmon die after they spawn.
- Young chum salmon feed on insects as they migrate downriver and on insects and marine invertebrates in estuaries and near-shore marine habitats.
- Adults eat copepods, fishes, mollusks, squid, and tunicates.
- Various fish and birds prey on juvenile chum salmon. Sharks, sea lions and seals, and orcas eat adult chum salmon.
- After salmon spawn and die, salmon carcasses are a valuable source of energy and nutrients to the river ecosystem. Carcasses have been shown to improve newly hatched salmon growth and survival by contributing nitrogen and phosphorous compounds to streams.
Where They Live
Range
- Chum salmon are the most widely distributed of all the Pacific salmon.
- They are found throughout the North Pacific Ocean and range from the Arctic coast of Canada and throughout the northern coastal regions of North America and Asia.
- In the United States, chum salmon are found throughout Alaska and as far south as Yaquina Bay, Oregon, on the West Coast.
Habitat
- Chum salmon spend their early life growing and feeding in fresh water streams, estuaries, and associated wetlands.
- They spend the remainder of their life foraging in the ocean before returning to the streams and tributaries where they were born to spawn.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Salmoniformes |
| Family | Salmonidae |
| Genus | Oncorhynchus |
| Species | keta |
Featured News
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Chum salmon swimming upstream to spawn in Washington. Credit: iStock
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Seafood Facts
Is Chum Salmon Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught chum salmon is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Fresh from late summer to spring and frozen and canned year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska and Washington and occasionally Oregon.
Taste
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Texture
Firm and meaty.
Color
Raw chum is orange, pink, or red and is paler than sockeye, coho, and Chinook salmon.
Health Benefits
Chum salmon is low in sodium and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, niacin, vitamin B12, and selenium.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 120; Protein: 20.14 g; Total Fat: 3.77 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.84 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 74 mg; Selenium: 36.5 mcg; Sodium: 50 mgChum Salmon Recipes
Chum salmon’s mild flavor and low oil content makes a delicious soup or curry. If you’re looking for cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for salmon chowder, sheet pan salmon, and more!
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Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of chum salmon. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species. Chum salmon have not been assessed.
Chum Salmon Research in Alaska
Our work to forecast salmon harvests, assess the impact of commercial fisheries on salmon, and evaluate how salmon populations respond to environmental changes enable us to estimate abundance and trends for chum salmon in Alaska.
More on salmon research in Alaska
Chum Salmon Research in the Pacific Northwest
Our research on Pacific salmon covers several topics including bycatch, salmon harvest forecasts, ecotoxicology, genetics, marine survival and responses to climate change.
