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Salmon, Chinook

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General

Salmonids

There are many species that belong to the Salmonids or (Protacanthopterygii). Did you know trouts, smelts, and even pikes belong to the Salmon family? Salmonids occur in either salt and freshwater. Most species are well-specialized predators and live in temperate climate zones.  Salmonids are ray-finned fishes and can be distinguished by the ‘fat-fin’ between the backfin and tail. They do not have spikes and the pelvic and pectoral fin are separated.

Salmonids are sold farmed and wildcaught. Wildcaught salmon comes from the Pacific. Almost all Atlantic salmon on sold is farmed. Since the 90s the farming of salmon increased dramatically. Norway, chile, Scotland, Canada and the Faroe islands are important farming countries for salmon. In both, wild-caught and farmed salmon problems in sustainability are prevalent.

 

 

 

Salmon, Chinook

The Chinook salmon, or king salmon, is one of the five salmon species that can be found in the northern Pacific Ocean and its adjoining rivers. The native distribution of the Chinook salmon ranges from Alaska to California in the east and from Siberia to Japan in the west. This species has also been introduced in other areas. This salmon can reach an average length of 70 cm and can weigh up to 30 kilograms. Salmon are so called anadromous fish. This means that they are born is freshwater and then migrate to sea to become mature. After a few years, the mature fish return to freshwater to reproduce. When the chinook salmon return to reproduce, their appearance changes; their colours change to olive-green, red and purple and the males develop elongated jaws. Salmon only reproduce once and die shortly after.

 

Salmon, Chinook

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, northeast and northwest (FAO 61; 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Gillnets, Purse seines, Pelagic longlines

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Explanation assessment

Several Chinook salmon fisheries are MSCMSC:
Marine Stewardship Council, an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed an eco-label that guarantees well-managed, sustainable fisheries. Fish products that meet the criteria of the eco-label can be identified by the blue MSC logo.-certified, mainly around Alaska and one fishery in Kamchatka. These use many different fishing methods as well as catching other species of salmon. The Pacific salmon fishery is well regulated and the methods do little damage to nature. MSCMSC:
Marine Stewardship Council, an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed an eco-label that guarantees well-managed, sustainable fisheries. Fish products that meet the criteria of the eco-label can be identified by the blue MSC logo.-certified Chinook salmon are caught using gillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets., pelagic longlinesLonglines (drifting):
A fishing method whereby a long main line (40-100 km long) with transverse lines with hooks with bait is expanded. The line floats on buoys in the water column.  and pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'.  seines.

Salmon, Chinook

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, northeast (FAO 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines

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Minder tonen Toon beoordeling
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Chinook salmon stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. s are not doing well. They are currently at low levels and populations are showing declines. Stock estimateStock estimate:
Estimating the number of fish of a particular species who are reproducing in the same spawning area in the same period.  s take place with high uncertainties, so fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing. cannot be properly determined.

PursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'.  seines are unlikely to have a major impact on threatened and protectedProtected species:
Many marine species are protected from deliberate or intentional disturbance, capture, injury and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. Species are often protected if they play an important role in the ecosystem or are sensitive to fishing. These marine species are protected regardless of whether they are inside or outside marine protected areas. species. This fishery is very selectiveSelective fishing methods:
Selective fishing methods capture many target species, and little or no unwanted fish species and animals.  , but may have bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).  of other salmon species that occur here. These are often treated as discardsDiscards:
Unwanted by-catch, which is thrown back because there is no quota, the market price is too low, or the fish is below the legal minimum landing size. Discards can be alive or dead..

Chinook fisheries are managed by the Pacific Salmon Treaty and Canada’s Policy for conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon. Management is conducted from an ecological perspective, taking into account the functioning of the entire ecosystem. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured. of this species is largely effective.

Salmon, Chinook

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, northeast (FAO 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Gillnets

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  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
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Minder tonen Toon beoordeling
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Chinook salmon stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. s are not doing well. They are currently at low levels and populations are showing declines. Stock estimateStock estimate:
Estimating the number of fish of a particular species who are reproducing in the same spawning area in the same period.  s take place with high uncertainties, so fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing. cannot be properly determined.

Fishing with gillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets. can entangle vulnerable seabirds, whales and dolphins. The effects this method has on the ecosystem are largely unknown, but do not appear to have a major impact on benthic habitats and species.

Chinook fisheries are managed by the Pacific Salmon Treaty and Canada’s Policy for conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon. Management is conducted from an ecological perspective, taking into account the functioning of the entire ecosystem. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured. of this species is largely effective.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.

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