The life stages of salmon varies by species. Some salmon remain in Puget Sound. Others travel the Pacific Ocean for years. Most return to the stream or lake where they were born to spawn.

Salmon Life Stages     Incubation Emergence Freshwater Rearing Estuary Rearing Estuary Ocean Transition Ocean Residence Spawning Migration Spawning

The salmon life cycle occurs in a chain of connected environments: stream, estuary, nearshore, and ocean. If these environments are not maintained in a healthy state, salmon populations can decline.

		Incubation The female salmon chooses a site, digs a nest (redd) with her tail, then deposits eggs. One or more males fertilize the eggs. Each nest contains between 500 and 1,200 eggs. About 20 out of 100 eggs laid may survive to become fry.
		Emergence In late winter, the eggs hatch. Tiny alevins nestled in gravel live on the nutritious yolk "pot belly" on their undersides. While they have a yolk sac, alevins don't need to eat. Once the yolk sac is gone, they must find food quickly or they will starve.
		Freshwater Rearing When juvenile salmon or fry emerge from the redd, they must find food immediately. Most feed on insects as they grow. Salmon fry may spend hours to years in freshwater, depending on the species. Sockeye spend the longest amount of time in freshwater (1-3 years). Pink and chum fry spend the least amount of time in freshwater and immediately move downstream toward estuaries.
		Estuary Transition & Rearing Saltwater meets freshwater in estuaries, making a mix called "brackish" water. When fry enter estuaries, they begin to adapt to saltwater ­ a process called "smoltification." This major change causes young salmon to become less active and more vulnerable to predators such as birds and larger fish. To survive, young salmon must find places to hide and feed. Ocean-bound young salmon may spend days or months in estuaries and nearshore waters as they adjust to saltwater and grow, getting ready for an ocean journey.
		Estuary Ocean Transition At this stage, juvenile salmon travel from the protective waters of the estuary, along nearshore coastal areas, and into the open ocean.
		Ocean Residence Depending on the species, salmon may feed and grow in the ocean from six months to five years. Most head north, following the coast. They may travel thousands of miles, heading into the Gulf of Alaska and points beyond. While at sea, salmon must evade predators such as larger fish, killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seals.
		Migration to Spawn After one to seven years, depending on the species, salmon return to their home stream, river, or sometimes a lake to spawn. What causes adult salmon to move from ocean feeding grounds to their birthplace is not fully understood. Some scientists believe that salmon "smell" their way home, remembering smells along the way.
		Spawning When salmon enter enter freshwater to spawn, they stop eating. They lose their shiny, silvery colors; males may take on bright body colors, a hooked nose, and large teeth. Females may develop darker colors. Some species, such as steelhead may spawn more than once. Most salmon species die within one week of spawning. The dead salmon are not wasted. Their decomposing bodies add important nutrients to the stream or river. Dead and decaying salmon also provide food for a wide range of wildlife including bald eagles, bear, mink, and river otter.

Fish images courtesy Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Related Topics

Salmon, Why salmon use estuaries and nearshore waters.
Salmon Species, Estuary use varies.
Salmon & The Nearshore, Plants provide food and shelter.
Bulkheads, Bulkheads can damage salmon habitat.

Related Links

Puget Sound Nearshore Environments: Salmon Use, Large River Mouth, King County Department of Natural Resources. A color illustration showing zones used by juvenile salmon.

Wild Salmon: Our Precious Natural Resource,
Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Spawning of Coho, Chum, Sockeye and Pink Salmon.

Washington Wild Salmonid Restoration, The Governor's Salmon Recovery Office. Information about Washington state's salmon restoration efforts and the Endangered Species Act.

ESA and Salmon Recovery, Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. Habitat is the cornerstone to restoration.