There are five species of wild salmon: Sockeye (Red), King (Chinook), Coho (Silver), Chum (Keta) and Pink. A wild salmon of Alaska begins its life as an egg buried in a gravel nest in the bed of a stream or lake. After several developmental months, the egg hatches and the tiny fish, termed fry, wiggles up through the gravel into the pure stream or lake. Once emerged, the fry begins its journey to the ocean. This journey is quite remarkable as the fry must alter their behavior and physiological makeup (such as color, salt balance, shape and feeding habits) in order to live in saltwater. The amount of time for this transformation varies greatly from days, months or even years, as each individual fry is unique. Once at sea salmon generally spend between 1 and 3 years eating natural foods like shrimp, herring and zooplankton and growing very rapidly. In the fall, the salmon will make the often long journey back to its natal stream or lake where it will spawn and die.

Alaskan salmon are wild as opposed to salmon from other places which are farm raised. Wild Alaska salmon live in pure waters, in a balanced, natural ecosystem and are thus a better food choice for health and environmental reasons. The state of Alaska protects its wild salmon stocks by allowing no salmon farming to occur (Alaska Statute 16.40.210). Sustainable seafood, including Alaska salmon, is caught using methods that support the long-term supply of the species and don’t harm the environment.

In 1959, Alaska began managing its salmon fisheries with very positive results. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s general tactics have been to strictly regulate where we can fish, when we can fish, what types of fishing gear we are able to use, and how many commercial boats are allowed to fish during the season. As commercial fishermen in southeast Alaska, it is not unusual for us to be in daily contact with our local fish biologists as they manage our fishery to keep it sustainable. Because of our joint efforts we can claim that Alaska salmon fisheries are one of the most sustainable in the world!

Currently, the sustainability of our oceans is a hot topic as more and more people realize the fish they‘ve come to enjoy is no longer available due to environmental and/or cultural practices. Luckily, there are many individuals and groups throughout the world (including chefs, health food store professionals, environmental groups and governmental agencies) working every day to protect our waterways, and thus our fisheries, from depletion.

We are constantly reminded of how lucky we are to live in such a pristine environment that is so successfully managed! All five species of Alaskan salmon have the prestigious Marine Stewardship Council label because of the commercial fisheries’ continuous efforts to protect the marine environment that produces sustainable results. We are proud to harvest and provide for you the world’s finest, sustainable, wild Alaskan salmon.

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References:
Quinn, Thomas P. 2005. The Behavior and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout. University of Washington Press

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Public Communications Section. 2003. Alaska’s Salmon Management: Story of Success. On website: www.state.ak.us/adfg.

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