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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 weigh up to 45 pounds
Length
Up to 3.6 feet
Lifespan
Up to 6 years, typically 3-5 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.

About the Species

Chum salmon may historically have been the most abundant of all Pacific salmonids. They are 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. 

Some populations, known as Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs), are recognized as distinct for conservation purposes. They are determined based on their unique genetic and ecological traits. Two ESUs 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 01/08/2026

Featured News

Two adult chum salmon, one male and one female, hover over a river bed of cobbles and pebbles. The salmon have green bodies with purple stripes along the body, and the male has large, pointed teeth. New research may help scientists and fisheries managers reduce bycatch of chum salmon (above) and Chinook salmon in the eastern Bering Sea pollock fishery. Credit: Roger Tabor/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Feature Story

Investigating Salmon Bycatch Dynamics in the Alaska Pollock Fishery

Alaska
Looking inside the webbing of an orange trawl net. In the center hangs a scientific camera used to collect video footage to test the effectiveness of the bycatch reduction device in the net. Sexton trawl camera used to collect video footage inside pollock trawls to test the effectiveness of bycatch reduction devices in nets. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Feature Story

Faster Analysis of Data to Evaluate Bycatch Reduction Efforts in Pollock Fishery

Alaska
A meandering river and ponds interspersed with trees and grassy areas Aerial view of the Ridgefield Pits in the foreground on the East Fork Lewis River before restoration. The Daybreak Pits can also be seen and are located adjacent to the Ridgefield Pits. The project will focus on restoring the nine Ridgefield Pits. Credit: Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.
Feature Story

Washington State River Restoration Project to Revive Salmon Habitat, Support Local Jobs

West Coast
young Chinook salmon swimming in river Chinook salmon. (Credit: NOAA Fisheries)
Feature Story

Microsoft Provides AI and Cloud Computing for NOAA Project to Better Map Prime Salmon Habitat

West Coast
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)

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

Proposed evaluation for updated Dungeness hatchery plans (Washington state) available for public comment
Notice,
West Coast
Published

Seven Hatchery Programs in the Skokomish Basin

Seven Hatchery Programs in the Skokomish Basin
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 ESA. Listed species comprise of 17 evolutionarily significant units Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and 11 distinct population segments of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
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 Endan
Notice,
National
Published

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/08/2026

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

 

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. 

More on chum salmon research in the Pacific Northwest

Research & Data

NOAA Live! Alaska Season 5: 2024-25

NOAA Live! Alaska is a series of webinars that connects NOAA scientists and partners with students, teachers, and Alaska communities. In 2024-25, we are featuring NOAA programs and partners in Alaska communities.
Alaska

Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Domains

Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery domain boundaries for West Coast salmon and steelhead.
August 09, 2024 - Map ,
West Coast

GoToWebinar Registration and Joining Instructions

How to register and join meetings for the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force
Alaska

Meet the Task Force Members

Members of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force
Alaska
View More

Science Blogs

Survey

Annual Study of Salmon in Southeast Alaska - Post 6

Alaska
Survey ,
Alaska
Two spiky yellow fish in a lab pool Spiny lumpsuckers saved for the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute aquarium. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.
Survey

Annual Study of Salmon in Southeast Alaska - Post 5

Alaska
Survey ,
Alaska
Three scientists on the back of a boat with mountains in the background
Survey

Annual Study of Salmon in Southeast Alaska - Post 4

Alaska
Survey ,
Alaska
Icy waters in Alaska with mountains in the background
More Blog Posts

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/08/2026

Documents

Document

Three Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans for Skagit River Watershed Chum Salmon Hatchery Programs

4(d) Rule Limit 6 Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination

West Coast
Document

Cook Inlet Small Entity Compliance Guide

The Small Entity Compliance Guide (select "View Document" below) contains a summary of regulations…

Alaska
Document

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes January 25, 2024

Alaska Salmon Task Force Meeting Minutes for January 25, 2024.

Alaska
More Documents

Data & Maps

Map

Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Domains

Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery domain boundaries for West Coast salmon and steelhead.

West Coast
Map

Species and Habitat App

Web mapping app that displays and queries spatial data in the West Coast Region for Endangered…

West Coast
More Data
More Maps

Research

NOAA Live! Alaska Season 5: 2024-25

NOAA Live! Alaska is a series of webinars that connects NOAA scientists and partners with students, teachers, and Alaska communities. In 2024-25, we are featuring NOAA programs and partners in Alaska communities.

Alaska

GoToWebinar Registration and Joining Instructions

How to register and join meetings for the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force

Alaska

Meet the Task Force Members

Members of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force

Alaska

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force

Information and updates on the task force activities.

Alaska
More Research

Outreach & Education

Outreach Materials

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Report

Report from the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force

Alaska
Outreach Materials

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Meeting Agenda—March 27, 2024

Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Meeting Agenda for March 27, 2024

Alaska
Educational Materials

¡Cuento con usted! edición salmón (en español)

Aprenda a administrar el salmón responsablemente.

West Coast
More Outreach Materials
More Educational Materials

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/08/2026