Coho salmon

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) is a saltwater, freshwater, brackish species recorded in the United States. It is found at depths of 0–250 m.

Scientific name: Oncorhynchus kisutch · Water: Saltwater, Freshwater, Brackish

Size: up to 108 cm

About

The coho salmon is a pelagic neritic salmonid that occurs in the ocean or in lakes, and adults return to the rivers where they were born. The young usually live in fresh water for one to two years, sometimes up to four, before migrating at night to freshwater lakes or to the sea; fish that stay more than two years in fresh water and become sexually ripe without ever going to sea are called residuals and never spawn. Young fish in lakes and rivers eat mainly insects and are strongly territorial, while smolts at sea remain close to the coast for a time, eating planktonic crustaceans. It is recorded from the surface down to 250 m. Maximum length is about 108 cm total length, commonly about 71 cm, and it can live five years. It is a highly commercial species and a gamefish, with a medium price category. Fishing vulnerability is moderate to high at 50 of 100 and resilience medium, and climate vulnerability is high to very high at 72 of 100. IUCN lists it as least concern.

Ecology and habitat

Water layer
Inshore upper water
Depth
0–250 m
Distribution status
Native
Trophic level
4.2
Maximum age
5 years

Fishery and market

Game fish
Yes
Market price
Medium
Resilience
Medium

Methods

Sources

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