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Chum Salmon (Protected)

Chum Salmon (Protected)

Oncorhynchus keta

Side-profile illustration of a big chum salmon fish with dark metallic bluish-green coloring and black speckles on its upper half and lighter, paler belly. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Protected Status

ESA Threatened
Columbia River ESU
Hood Canal summer-run ESU

Quick Facts

Weight
8 to 15 pounds on average, but can weight up to 45 pounds
Length
Up to 3.6 feet
Lifespan
About 4 years
Threats
Climate change, Commercial and recreational fishing, Habitat degradation, Habitat impediments (dams), Habitat loss
Region
West Coast
Close-up of two chum salmon at the bottom of murky water. Can see rocks below the fish. Chum salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Chum salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

About the Species

Chum salmon may historically have been the most abundant of all Pacific salmonids. They are an anadromous fish, which means they can live in both fresh and saltwater. Chum salmon have a relatively complex life history that includes spawning and juvenile rearing in rivers followed by migrating to saltwater to feed, grow, and mature before returning to freshwater to spawn. They are vulnerable to many stressors and threats including blocked access to spawning grounds and habitat degradation caused by dams and culverts. Two evolutionary significant units of chum salmon are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting chum salmon. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species.

Learn more about chum salmon

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Osteichthyes
Order Salmoniformes
Family Salmonidae
Genus Oncorhynchus
Species keta

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/14/2022

Featured News

A railroad bridge runs parallel to the shore, with estuary habitat in the foreground and open water in the background A new railroad bridge at Meadowdale Beach Park is helping to improve fish passage and reconnect the park to the beach. Credit: Snohomish County.
Feature Story

Restoration Project Improves Access to Meadowdale Beach Park for Salmon—and People

West Coast
Close-up of two chum salmon at the bottom of murky water. Can see rocks below the fish.
Feature Story

Selections Made for Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region Salmon Research Work Group

Alaska
Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and summer steelhead swimming in the Elwha River. Photograph of Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and summer steelhead returning to the Elwha River. Photo courtesy of John McMillan
Feature Story

NOAA Fisheries Announces Selection of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Members

Alaska
Red light house sits on island in Great Lakes
Feature Story

Inflation Reduction Act: A Historic Investment in America’s Climate Resilience

National
View More News

Related Species

Left-facing side-profile illustration of Atlantic salmon fish with black, gray head and shiny silver body. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Atlantic Salmon (Protected)

Side-profile illustration of a silvery sockeye salmon fish with black speckles on its back. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Sockeye Salmon (Protected)

Side-profile illustration of a big coho salmon fish with dark metallic blue back, silver sides, and a light belly. Small black spots are present on the upper lobe of the tail fin. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Coho Salmon (Protected)

Side-profile illustration of a chinook salmon fish with blue-green back and black speckles on its upper half and tail fin. Chinook salmon are silver on the sides and have white bellies. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Chinook Salmon (Protected)

In the Spotlight

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/14/2022

Management Overview

We listed the Columbia River and Hood Canal summer-run ESUs as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1999.

Learn more about the regulatory history of chum salmon

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents

Dungeness Hatcheries Plans

NOAA Fisheries is making available for public review its Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination (PEPD) for a Chinook salmon hatchery program operating in the Dungeness River basin (see Resources, below). An ESA Section 4(d) Limit 6…
Notice
,
West Coast
Published

Initiation of 5-Year Reviews for 28 ESA Listed Species of Salmon and Steelhead

NOAA announced 5-year reviews of 28 species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The listed species comprise 17 evolutionarily significant units of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and 11 distinct population segments of steelhead (Oncorhynchus…
Notice
,
West Coast
Issued

90-Day Finding on Petition to List the Winter-Run Puget Sound Chum Salmon in the Nisqually River System and Chambers Creek as a Threatened or

NOAA Fisheries announces a 90-day finding on a petition to list the winter-run Puget Sound chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in the Nisqually River system and Chambers Creek as a threatened or endangered evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) under the…
Notice
,
National
Published

Designation of Critical Habitat for 12 Evolutionarily Significant Units of West Coast Salmon and Steelhead in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (2005)

NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule designating critical habitat for 12 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of West Coast salmon (chum, Oncorhynchus keta; sockeye, O. nerka; chinook, O. tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) listed as of the date of…
Final Rule
,
West Coast
Published

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/14/2022

Science Overview

Image
Five salmon species on a table with a ruler arranged from smallest to largest (pink, chum, sockeye, chinook, and coho)
Juveniles of the five Pacific salmon species. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Alaska Fisheries Science Center

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.

Dive Deeper Into Our Research

Chum Salmon 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.

Salmon research in Alaska

Research & Data

2021 Genetic Stock Composition Analysis of Chum Salmon From the Prohibited Species Catch of the Bering Sea Walleye Pollock Trawl Fishery and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries

Alaska Fisheries Science Center Salmon Bycatch Report
December 20, 2022 - Assessments ,
Alaska

2020 Genetic Stock Composition Analysis of Chum Salmon From the Prohibited Species Catch of the Bering Sea Walleye Pollock Trawl Fishery and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries

Alaska Fisheries Science Center Salmon Bycatch Report
December 20, 2022 - Assessments ,
Alaska

Critical Habitat - Maps and GIS Data (West Coast Region)

Maps and GIS data for black abalone, bocaccio, Chinook salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, eulachon, green sturgeon, humpback whale, killer whale, leatherback turtle, sockeye salmon, steelhead trout, Steller sea lion, and yelloweye rockfish.
December 03, 2021 - Map ,
West Coast

2017 Genetic Stock Composition Analysis of Chum Salmon From the Prohibited Species Catch of the Bering Sea Walleye Pollock Trawl Fishery and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries

Alaska Fisheries Science Center Salmon Bycatch Report.
July 13, 2021 - Assessments ,
Alaska
View More

Recent Science Blogs

View More

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/14/2022

Documents

Document

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes for November 14, 2023.

Alaska
Document

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes September 19, 2023

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes for September 19, 2023.

Alaska
Document

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Meeting Agenda—September 19, 2023

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Meeting Agenda for September 19, 2023

Alaska
Document

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Milestone Calendar

Meeting dates for approaches and milestones along with the meeting schedule

Alaska
More Documents

Data & Maps

More Data and Maps

Outreach & Education

Educational Materials

¡Cuento con usted! edición salmón (en español)

Aprenda a administrar el salmón responsablemente.

West Coast
Educational Materials

I'm Counting on You! Salmon Brochure About Issues Affecting Salmon and How You Can Help

Learn about the threats facing salmon and what you can do to help.

West Coast
Educational Materials

Protectores de Salmónidos (en español)

A través de los cómics, los juegos de palabras, y los laberintos, los niños aprenden sobre la…

West Coast
Educational Materials

An Incredible Journey – Curriculum About Issues Affecting Salmon and How to Become a Salmon Steward

This curriculum includes 10 hands-on lesson plans that explore the salmon life cycle; the cultural,…

West Coast
More Outreach and Education Materials

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/14/2022