Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Northwest). Coho Salmon.
Abstract
This Species Profile of the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) is designed to give background material on virtually all aspects of the fish's life history. The coho is anadromous, swimming upstream from the ocean in fall to spawn. The fry hatch in the spring and outmigrate 1 to 2 years later. They usually spend two growing seasons at sea. They require clear, cold, well-oxygenated (<4 mg/1) stream water (1 m/sec) for spawning and rearing, with a gravel substrate, adequate cover, and a food supply of insects, crustaceans, and fishes for the young. All populations of coho salmon are limited by the amount of suitable rearing area available. They are sought after in both sport and commercial fisheries, and are very sensitive, especially the early life stages in streams, to such human-made impacts as siltation, pollution, removal of cover, and barriers to migration. Current management objectives of the State of Washington are toward MSH (maximum sustained harvest), with the treaty Indian tribes under the Boldt Decision (United States vs. State of Washington) having a legal right to 50% of the catchable allocation. Keywords: Feeding habits, Animal migrations, Life cycles, Growth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA172613
Entities
People
- Gilbert B. Pauley
- Jeffrey C. Laufle
- Michael F. Shepard