Pacific salmon are incredible fish. Their annual migration is one of the marvels of the natural world. Their connection to the people of the north Pacific coast is cultural, social, ecological and economic. Every day we learn more about how salmon connect to our lives.

Meet Professor Salmon

Sometimes salmon science requires researchers and volunteers get their hands a little dirty!

Sometimes salmon science requires researchers
and volunteers to get their hands a little dirty!

Challenge Professor Salmon with your toughest salmon questions. Explore the questions that other people have already asked, such as:

Contact Think Salmon to ask your own Professor Salmon question.

Pacific Salmon Species

Learn about the different species of Pacific salmon, and see what makes each unique.

Pacific Salmon Science

Salmon science happens all around us, on land and in the water -- wherever salmon live. Learn why studying salmon is essential in Salmon Science.

Projects like the Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) and Salmon Forests highlight how salmon play a key role throughout our natural systems. Salmon stock status reports help us understand salmon numbers.

Life cycle of the Pacific salmon

The Pacific salmon lifecycle from spawning adult to egg, alevin, fry, smolt, adult that returns to spawing.

And everyone can play a role. Citizen Science show you how to track salmon in your backyard. If that's right for you, make sure to check out our Participate section to find creative, simple ways you can help salmon.

Pacific Salmon Life Cycle

From 4,000 salmon eggs, 800 salmon fry hatch, 200 salmon smolts go to sea, 10 salmon reach adulthood and 2 salmon return to their spawning grounds to lay eggs again.

The marvel of the annual salmon migration from salt water to fresh water rivers and streams is just one part of the incredible life cycle of pacific salmon. Learn how salmon progress from egg to alevin to fry to smolt to adults that lay eggs and keep the cycle turning.