Gene Conservation Laboratory

The Salmon Story — Maturing

5. Immature (sub-adult)

Depending on the species, salmon grow into adulthood between the ages of 2 to 7 as they migrate through different parts of the Pacific Ocean. They are harvested by many other animals as they return to the nearshore areas, seeking to spawn in the stream where they hatched. Killer whales and other marine mammals eat them, commercial fishermen catch them, and sport fishermen catch some species (sport fishermen mostly go after coho salmon and chinook salmon).

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