DID YOU KNOW? Sockeye is unique among the Pacific salmon in that juveniles rear for at least a year or two in lakes before migrating to saltwater.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Oncorhynchus nerka, from the Greek words onkos (hook), rynchos (snout), and nerka, the Russian name for the species.

COMMON NAMES: Red salmon, blueback, "silver trout" and kokanee (land locked form).

DESCRIPTION: The sockeye salmon is greenish-blue with fine black specklings on back; no large dark spots. Spawning males have pale green heads, dark jaws, pale undersides and bright red bodies. Spawning females look generally the same, except for more subdued coloration. Up to 33 inches in length and weigh up to 15 pounds.

LIFE CYCLE: One of the only species of salmon that spawn in streams headed by lakes, sockeye salmon spend from 1 to 2 years in freshwater, a significant portion of which is spent in lakes. Once beginning the journey downstream, sockeye salmon progress steadily toward the ocean. After 1 to 2 years offshore, sockeye return to spend 1 to 8 months in the lake prior to spawning.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: Sockeye salmon rely on stream, lake and estuarine habitat as well as offshore waters during their lifecycle. They feed on small planktonic (drifting) organisms and a variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects. Eggs are laid in fine gravel and need cool water and good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive. After emerging from the redd (nest) they move upstream or downstream into a nursery lake or estuary. Once in lakes, young sockeye live for approximately 1 month in the littoral (shoreside) zone before moving out into open lake waters where they reside until they migrate out to sea.Because young sockeye spend a significant portion of their lives within lakes or estuaries -- places where humans also tend to concentrate their populations -- they are particularly susceptible to human induced changes to water quality and habitat threats. Poor timber and agricultural management practices can lead to siltation in streams and lakes which may ruin spawning beds or smother the eggs. Additionally, migrating salmon in the Columbia, Skagit, and Fraser Rivers face the physical obstacles and high water temperatures resulting from dams, inadequate water flows in rivers and streams due to water diversions for irrigation, and the impoundment of water for power generation.

RANGE: In North America, important spawning populations occur from the Columbia River northward. Stocks originate primarily from tributaries and lakes in Bristol Bay, Alaska and the Fraser River in British Columbia. Two sockeye runs originate in Puget Sound -- in Lake Washington and Baker Lake -- and two on the Northern Washington coast -- in Lake Quinalt and Lake Ozetta. Columbia River runs originate in Lake Wenatchee and Osoyoos Lake.

ECONOMIC VALUE: The third most abundant salmon species, sockeye salmon is a culturally and economically important resource to commercial fishermen throughout Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Sockeye salmon rank second in commercial landings to the pink salmon; but first in value. They are also an important subsistence fish and a valuable recreational resource. Significant economic losses to coastal communities resulted from the taking of sockeye in Japanese high seas driftnet fisheries. Over a 20 year period, this fishery is estimated to have taken over 46 million North American sockeye. Additionally, the landlocked kokanee is a very important freshwater sport fish throughout the west coast.