#Oncorhynchus kisutch

[namu-the-orca]

SALMONIDS of ALASKA The bane of my existence for the entirety of 2020 and part of 2021: the salmon poster. You've seen the separate illustrations, but now, finally, here is the full thing.

This entire project was a journey. I had never illustrated fish before, let alone in this much detail. I have retained an appropriate hatred of scales and fin rays from this project. But also a persistent joy from having created these illustrations, and appreciation for what beautiful animals these salmon are. Putting together the poster, making all elements fit together and - not unimportantly - making the poster fit its allotted space on the wall was an additional endeavour.

It is currently displayed aboard the David B, the vessel of Northwest Navigation who commissioned this piece. If you're interested in having a copy of your own, you can contact them. For now I hope you enjoy reading this (if you open the image in a separate tab, I made it big enough to read) - and mayhaps learn something new about the intriguing world of salmon! I certainly did.

[alux-ulkan]

Coho Salmon / Silver Salmon - Oncorhynchus kisutch

Scale Pattern, 07/10/2023

[i-give-you-a-fish]

i /love/ salmon, can i have one?

Salmon for ye

You get a Silver Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

[i-give-you-a-fish]

You get a Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

How do you become a gimmick blog?

step 1: think of a gimmick

step 2: blog

[nullarysources]

Expired Cans of Salmon From Decades Ago Reveal a Huge Surprise

Jess Cockerill for ScienceAlert:

So when [parasite ecologist] Chelsea Wood got a call from Seattle's Seafood Products Association, asking if she'd be interested in taking boxes of dusty old expired cans of salmon – dating back to the 1970s – off their hands, her answer was, unequivocally, yes.

…

The 178 tin cans in the 'archive' contained four different salmon species caught in the Gulf of Alaska and Bristol Bay across a 42-year period (1979–2021), including 42 cans of chum (Oncorhynchus keta), 22 coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), 62 pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), and 52 sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka).

Although the techniques used to preserve the salmon do not, thankfully, keep the worms in pristine condition, the researchers were able to dissect the filets and calculate the number of worms per gram of salmon.

They found worms had increased over time in chum and pink salmon, but not in sockeye or coho.

Extremely normal thing to measure, it doesn't get more normal than that in fact

[caviarben]

Exploring the Fascinating World of Salmon and Sturgeon Species

Introduction

Salmon and sturgeon are among the most fascinating and important species in aquatic ecosystems. These fish are not only vital for the environment but also hold significant value in culinary and cultural aspects. This comprehensive guide explores the different types of salmon and sturgeon, their characteristics, habitats, and uses.

Types of Salmon

1. Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Characteristics: Known for its silvery skin and spotted back.

Habitat: Native to the North Atlantic Ocean.

Culinary Uses: Highly prized for its tender, flavorful flesh.

2. Pacific Salmon

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Largest of the Pacific salmon, valued for its high-fat content.

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Known for its mild flavor and firm texture.

Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): Distinctive for its bright red flesh and rich flavor.

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha): The most abundant but smallest in size, often canned or smoked.

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta): Recognized for its pale flesh and lower fat content, commonly used in frozen and canned products.

3. Freshwater Salmon

Kokanee Salmon: A landlocked form of Sockeye, found in freshwater lakes.

Masu Salmon: Native to Japan, unique for its cherry blossom-colored flesh.

Types of Sturgeon

1. Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso)

Characteristics: One of the largest freshwater fish, known for producing the finest caviar.

Habitat: Found primarily in the Caspian and Black Seas.

2. Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)

Characteristics: Noted for its bony plates and elongated body.

Habitat: Native to the eastern coast of North America.

3. Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

Characteristics: Recognized by its shark-like tail and rounded snout.

Habitat: Inhabits the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.

Culinary and Cultural Significance

Both salmon and sturgeon hold immense culinary value. Salmon is celebrated for its versatility in dishes, from sushi to grilled preparations. Sturgeon, especially for its roe, is a delicacy in many cultures, symbolizing luxury and fine dining.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation of these species is crucial due to overfishing and habitat loss. Sustainable practices and regulations are essential for their survival.

FAQs

What is the difference between Atlantic and Pacific salmon?

Atlantic salmon are typically larger and have a more pronounced flavor, while Pacific salmon are known for their variety and rich, fatty textures.

Can sturgeon be found in freshwater and saltwater?

Yes, some sturgeon species are anadromous, migrating between freshwater and saltwater environments.

Is caviar only produced by sturgeon?

While sturgeon caviar is the most renowned, other fish like salmon also produce roe used in cuisine.

Conclusion

Understanding the types of salmon and sturgeon is crucial for appreciating their role in ecosystems and gastronomy. Conservation efforts are vital to ensure these species continue to thrive for future generations.

[iwinablog]

Exploring the World's Finest Salmon for Culinary Delights

Salmon is renowned for its exquisite taste and versatility in culinary creations. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the world's best salmon varieties, highlighting their exceptional quality, availability, and cost. We will also delve into the fishing methods employed and suggest five international dishes that showcase the incredible potential of these salmon varieties. To complete the dining experience, we will pair each dish with the perfect wine selection, including Vermentino, Barolo, and Pinot Grigio.

The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): The Atlantic salmon is considered one of the finest varieties globally, celebrated for its tender flesh and buttery flavor. Sourced from the cold, pristine waters of Norway, Scotland, and Canada, these salmon are known for their high fat content, vibrant pink flesh, and consistent quality. The cost of Atlantic salmon varies depending on factors such as size, freshness, and location, with prices typically ranging from $15 to $30 per pound. You can find these delectable salmon fillets at specialty seafood markets and upscale supermarkets worldwide.

King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, particularly Alaska, the King Salmon, also known as Chinook salmon, boasts a rich, succulent flavor and a striking orange-red flesh. It is revered for its robust texture and generous marbling, making it ideal for grilling, baking, or even sushi. Due to its premium quality, the King Salmon is relatively expensive, with prices ranging from $25 to $40 per pound. Look for this exceptional salmon at high-end seafood markets and reputable online suppliers.

Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): The Sockeye Salmon, also known as Red Salmon, is renowned for its deep, vibrant red color and distinct flavor. Harvested primarily in the waters of Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest, this salmon variety exhibits a firm texture and a pronounced, rich taste that makes it an excellent choice for smoking and grilling. The cost of Sockeye Salmon ranges from $12 to $20 per pound, and it is widely available in supermarkets, fish markets, and online seafood retailers.

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Coho Salmon, commonly known as Silver Salmon, is prized for its delicate flavor and tender flesh. Found in the waters of Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest, this salmon variety offers versatility in cooking methods and works exceptionally well in dishes such as pan-seared fillets, ceviche, and tartare. The cost of Coho Salmon varies from $10 to $18 per pound, and it can be found in seafood markets, specialty stores, and online suppliers.

Scottish Salmon (Salmo salar): Scottish Salmon is highly regarded for its superior taste, texture, and exceptional quality. Raised in the pristine waters of Scotland's coastal regions, these salmon exhibit a delicate flavor profile, luscious texture, and beautiful pink hue. Scottish Salmon is available year-round and can be purchased from trusted fishmongers, gourmet stores, and online retailers. Prices range from $15 to $30 per pound, depending on the grade and preparation.

Pairing with Wines:

Vermentino: This light and crisp white wine with citrus and tropical fruit notes pairs wonderfully with dishes such as grilled salmon with lemon and herbs or salmon ceviche. Its vibrant acidity complements the salmon's flavors and enhances the overall dining experience.

Barolo: A full-bodied red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, Barolo is an excellent match for heartier salmon preparations, such as seared salmon with a rich red wine reduction or salmon served with a mushroom risotto. The wine's robust tannins and complex flavors harmonize well with the salmon's richness.

Pinot Grigio: A versatile white wine with a refreshing character and crisp acidity, Pinot Grigio is an ideal choice for lighter salmon dishes like poached salmon or salmon salad. Its fruity and floral notes provide a delightful contrast to the fish's subtle flavors.

Indulging in the world's finest salmon varieties offers a culinary experience like no other. From the buttery Atlantic Salmon to the robust King Salmon, these exceptional fish are readily available, albeit at varying costs, in specialty seafood markets and reputable online suppliers. When preparing these salmon delicacies, consider enhancing the dining experience by pairing them with the suitable wines, such as Vermentino, Barolo, or Pinot Grigio. Whether you're grilling, baking, or enjoying raw preparations, these top-quality salmon varieties are sure to elevate your culinary creations to new heights.

by Sebastian Prestini

[tattooed-alchemist]

[nature-and-biodiversity-blog]

Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch

[i-give-you-a-fish]

You get a Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

watching Seven Samurai

[i-give-you-a-fish]

Greetings ! May i have some sort of salmon ?

Many thanks !

You get a Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

[andreyshunt]

Today was Trip # 4 for coho salmon 😢 My kid was  excited 😜 To catch a fish #fishing #salmonFishing #SandyRiver #andreyshunt #Fallsalmon #pnwfishing #oregon #oregonfishing #portlandfishing #portland #fishinglife #sandyriverfishing #Oncorhynchus #Pink #gorbuscha #Sockeye #nerka #Coho #kisutch #Chum #keta #Chinook #tshawytscha #Steelhead #mykiss #Cutthroat #clarkiclarki #fishinglife #fishingseason #fishingguide (at Sandy River Delta Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU9oKibrwfx/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Why Forests Need Salmon

(Originally posted at my blog at https://rebeccalexa.com/why-forests-need-salmon/)

One of my favorite fall activities is to check local streams for salmon runs. Here in the Pacific Northwest, and extending north into Alaska, we have seven species of anadromous Salmonidae: chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), coastal cutthroat trout  (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii), and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). My favorite run is the chum salmon that run up Ellsworth Creek in southwest Washington each fall, but I’m honestly just happy to see any migrating salmon. And as I hike through stands of ancient western red cedar (Thuja plicata), I like to think about the many ways in which these and other forests need salmon for their ongoing health.

Anadromous fish are those that are born in fresh water, spend much of their adult lives in salt water, and then return to fresh water to spawn. Some, like Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and some populations of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) are iteroparous, meaning they can make this journey multiple times in a lifetime. Pacific salmonids, on the other hand, are semelparous, meaning that they spawn once and then die shortly thereafter. (From here on out I am going to use “salmon” as a general, casual term referring to both the Oncorhynchus species, and the steelhead and cutthroat trout.)

Pacific salmon were originally freshwater fish that inhabited lakes and slow-moving rivers. Somewhere around 25 million years ago, the climate cooled significantly, with average temperatures dropping almost twenty degrees F. We’re not sure at what point after this the salmon began expanding into brackish estuaries and then the Pacific Ocean itself, but when they did they found rich sources of food unlike what they had access to in fresh water. Over time, they evolved a life cycle that let them be born in the relatively safe shelter of freshwater streams, and then go out to the ocean to feast on the banquet found there when they were large enough to have a better chance of survival.

Eventually salmon runs could be found in streams as far inland as eastern Idaho, eastern British Columbia, and the southern two-thirds of Alaska (with some Alaskan runs even crossing over into Canada!) And until the arrival of European colonizers, these streams consistently provided indigenous people all along the Pacific coastline an incredibly important source of food, cultural and economic trade, mythos, and more. Unfortunately, the newcomers overharvested the salmon, dammed and destroyed streams and other habitat, and of course spearheaded the causes of anthropogenic climate change.

Indigenous people fish for salmon at Celilo Falls on the Columbia River. As the single longest continuously inhabited community in North America (over 15,000 years!), this location was a home and hub of cultural activity for many indigenous tribes and communities across the region before it was flooded by the completion of the Dalles Dam in 1957.

All these factors have led to a precipitous decline in the size of both salmon runs, and the salmon themselves. This isn’t just detrimental to indigenous communities, though. It also threatens the health of forests all throughout the salmons’ range.

A forest isn’t just made of trees. It’s composed of entire plant communities, fungi (including mycorrhizal species), and the animals, bacteria, and other living beings that share space with them. When salmon travel up and down the waterways as fry, and then later to spawn as adults, they have a direct impact on that ecosystem.

Salmon fry are an important source of food for larger fish, amphibians, birds, and other beings that seek food in the water. In fact, part of why salmon lay so many eggs (over 5,000 in the case of chinook!) is because most of the fry that hatch will never make it to adulthood. But adult salmon aren’t safe from predation on their return trip to their birthplaces. In fact, they are caught and eaten by a wide variety of animals from bears to eagles, wolves to osprey, sea lions to bobcats.

Bears are of particular interest here. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are well-known for gorging on summer and fall salmon runs to build up massive amounts of fat in preparation for winter hibernation. (Katmai National Park even celebrates their bears during Fat Bear Week every October!) You can watch video feeds of several bears hanging out in their favorite fishing spots by waterfalls and in the flow of the river.

Imagine that you are a young bear, perhaps recently forced to independence by your mother who is now focused on your younger siblings. You have to not only start catching fish without her protection from bigger bears, but you also need to make sure those stronger bears don’t steal your catch. What’s the best thing to do? Run far away into the woods to eat your salmon in peace, then leave the remains among the trees and head back for more.

If the fishing is good, bears will often eat only the fattiest parts of the salmon like the brains and skin, and then leave the rest behind for scavengers. The nutrients in the salmon then disseminate throughout the forest, whether carried in the digestive systems of animals, or broken down in place by decomposers. This helps make the nutrients available to the plants, particularly trees which may store massive amounts of nutrients in their trunks; when the trees die, they essentially become a food pantry for younger beings like new seedlings, fungi, and so forth.

Now–what’s so special about the nutrients in salmon? Well, remember that these fish spend years out in the ocean. And the ocean has an entirely different balance of nutrients floating around in it compared to what’s found in fresh water or on land. The salmon are essentially the only way these ocean-borne nutrients can make their way into the forest in any meaningful amount, and they do so on a regular basis each year. The trees near salmon runs fished by bears may be 300% larger than usual, and salmon also provide nearly three quarters of the nitrogen in the forest. That’s a pretty impressive contribution!

This isn’t just about how forests need salmon; it’s a reciprocal relationship. While the salmon’s immediate habitats are aquatic, these streams, rivers, and other waterways are directly affected by what happens on the land around them.

Every waterway has a watershed–an area of land from which precipitation drains into that waterway. These watersheds nest within each other; the watersheds of small streams are nested within the watersheds of the rivers the streams feed into. That water carries things with it, from soil to pollutants. So the health of the land has a direct impact on what is found in the water.

But it goes beyond what’s washed downstream, and into how it’s washed down. In a healthy forest, for example, the soil is able to absorb a significant amount of precipitation that falls throughout the year, keeping it from simply cascading down hillsides to create flooding and landslides. Water is also stored in the various living beings in the forest; again trees are often the champions with their great size, but smaller plants help with water retention quite a bit as well, both through internal storage and preventing evaporation from soil. A forest that is badly damaged, such as through a clearcut or wildfire, won’t hold water as well. This can lead to floods, landslides and other erosion, and increase the impact of summer droughts as the land simply can’t store as much water, or for as long.

All of this affects the salmon directly. If the watershed is no longer holding and releasing snowmelt, rain, and other water in a controlled manner, this can lead to flooding in waterways which can wash away salmon eggs and fry. Increased erosion buries the gravel that salmon lay eggs in with silt, smothering the eggs so they never hatch. When a riparian zone–the land along a waterway–is stripped of vegetation, the water loses crucial shaded areas that keep temperatures cool. Salmon easily overheat when temperatures rise even a few degrees. And drought can dry up smaller streams, stranding and even killing young salmon while preventing adults from reaching their spawning grounds.

While not every single salmon run exclusively travels through forests, many of them do. And many spawning grounds are found in forests, or at least areas with significant tree cover in riparian zones. Salmon must have healthy forests in order to continue to survive, and the loss of these forests is just one of many factors contributing to their severe decline.

Thankfully, I am far from the only person concerned about the safety of our wild Pacific salmon. There are numerous organizations working to protect and restore salmon habitat through dam removal, preservation and restoration of aquatic habitat and surrounding land, regulations on salmon fishing, and educating people about sustainable seafood options (or just not eating seafood at all.) And even habitat restoration efforts that aren’t directly in salmon-inhabited waterways still have a positive impact on the forest ecosystem as a whole.

We know that forests need salmon, and salmon need forests. To protect one is to protect the other, and long may they both thrive.

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[ainawgsd]

You are a Coho salmon! (Oncorhynchus kisutch) One time when I was a kid I ate an entire coho salmon my dad caught and I threw up. This isn't your fault though, so please don't beat yourself up about it.

Hi I spent the entire afternoon in a salmon-fueled fugue state and now finally the most important quiz is here. I’ve brought it to you.

[seabeck]

Oncorhynchus kisutch

[csnews]

When Chinook salmon is off the menu, other prey will do for endangered orcas

Elizabeth Claire Alberts - March 3, 2021

- A new study has found that endangered southern resident killer whales mainly consume endangered Chinook salmon, but will broaden their diet when this species isn’t available. - The researchers obtained data through prey and fecal waste collected from resident killer whales over a 13-year period. - Efforts to reinstate Chinook salmon populations through hatchery efforts can play an important role in supporting resident killer whale populations, although these programs need to be carefully managed to ensure that stocks are diverse, the study suggests.

For nearly 20 years, Robin Baird has been following killer whales, trying to figure out what they eat. At first, he would look to see what was in their mouths as the whales feasted on fish near the surface. But then he and his colleague, Brad Hanson, started looking for more subtle clues in their flukeprints — the orbs of placid water that appear on the surface when a killer whale dives into the sea, or flicks its tail underwater. In or around these flukeprints, you can find fish scales and fecal matter, which provide a treasure trove of information.

“If they’re catching things near the surface of the water, it’s much [easier] to be able to document than if they’re capturing things at depth,” Baird, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, told Mongabay in an interview. “What the fecal samples do is they show … a higher proportion of things like lingcod and halibut and sole flounder [that] are caught deeper in the water column and less likely to be brought up to the surface.”

A new study published March 3 in PLOS ONE provides a comprehensive look at the diet of the endangered southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca), or orcas, that inhabit the Pacific coast between the U.S. and Canada, as well as the inland waterways of Washington state, during the spring, summer and fall months.

By analyzing 150 prey and fecal samples collected between 2004 and 2017, the researchers found that endangered Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) was always the prey of choice, constituting nearly 100% of their diet in the spring, and about 70% to 80% of their diet in mid-winter and early spring. But when Chinook salmon was scarce, particularly in the fall when orcas only ate this prey about 50% of the time, they had to supplement their diet with other fish such as chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and also non-salmonid species like lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) and Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis).

“Whether or not you interpret that as a good thing, in the sense that, ‘Okay if there aren’t enough Chinook around, they’re going to be able to get by other types of prey,’ or if you view it as an indicator of, ‘Well, we need to do more to make Chinook available to them, year round,’ I think it is a bit up in the air,” said Baird, who was a co-author of the study.

Chinook salmon is one of the fattiest, calorie-rich prey foods available to resident killer whales, and the consumption of these fish has long been linked to the survivability of orcas. Yet many Chinook salmon populations are threatened with extinction due to threats like overfishing and the construction of dams, which obstruct their ability to spawn.

For instance, 12 of the 13 Chinook salmon populations in the Fraser River, a waterway that snakes through British Columbia, are considered to be at risk because of habitat destruction, overfishing, and also warming waters due to climate change. But in the lower Columbia River between Oregon and Washington, Chinook salmon populations have moderately recovered thanks to spawning and reintroduction efforts. However, these populations are still considered “threatened.”

“If returns to the Fraser River are in trouble, and Columbia River returns are strong, then prey availability to the whales potentially balances out as the whales have evolved to move rapidly throughout their range,” Hanson, lead author of the study and a wildlife biologist at NOAA, said in a statement. “But if most of the stocks throughout their range are reduced then this could spell trouble for the whales.”

The southern resident killer whale population has been declining over the years; right now, it’s estimated there are only 74 individuals in three pods. By contrast, the northern resident killer whales have been steadily increasing, and have a current population of about 300 individuals. This discrepancy could be due to the northern resident killer whales having more access to mature Chinook salmon, the study suggests.

Hatcheries for Chinook salmon provide an important source of prey for southern resident killer whales, according to the study. But these programs should be carefully managed so that the prey is available at all times of the year, especially when there are shortages in the orcas’ diet, the researchers say.

“We don’t need more cookie-cutter fish that all come back during the time when Chinook are most abundant; we need to diversify and increase availability at other times of the year,” Baird said in a statement.

Emmalai Page, a marine campaigner at the Canadian NGO Pacific Wild, who was not involved in this study, said the research confirmed what conservationists already suspected about orcas’ diets: that they supplemented with other fish when Chinook salmon wasn’t available. However, she said it was interesting to see the seasonal changes in their diet.

“We have known that SRKWs [southern resident killer whales] were most likely not getting enough Chinook salmon, so it is reassuring to know that there is supplementation of other species occurring,” Page told Mongabay in an email.

She also said this study, as well as others like it, can help inform conservation efforts to preserve salmon populations, including Chinook salmon stocks, for resident killer whales.

“It can often be difficult to align the messaging of conservation organizations, academia and government,” Page said. “Having a scientific study concluding what many have observed for years is validating in itself. Going forward, more collaboration is needed between conservation organizations, First Nations, management organizations and academia. No single group has all the resources to make all the changes necessary.”