Pacific Salmon in the North American Arctic

Abstract

All five North American Pacific salmon species occur in small numbers in arctic waters, but only pink and chum salmon appear to have viable populations north of Point Hope, Alaska. Pink salmon are the most common species and constitute 85% of salmon caught in biological surveys. Pink salmon apparently have small runs in eight arctic drainages, while chum salmon may have small runs in six. Arctic pink salmon are smaller in size than individuals to the south but have similar meristic characteristics. It is likely that minimal use of freshwater habitats by pink and chum salmon has allowed them to colonize characteristically cold arctic rivers.

Key words: Arctic, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, pink salmon, chum salmon