LIFE CYCLE OF THE SALMON

Eggs

Alevin

During spawning,  eggs are deposited by the female in redds (gravel depression scoured out by the adults with their tails). Milt (sperm) is then deposited from the male salmon to fertilize the eggs and begin a whole new generation.  Depending on water temperature eggs will take between 6 to 8 weeks to reach the Alevin stage. See the tiny black spots in the photo? Those are their eyes; the first sign of development.

Alevin are newly born fish.  They derive their nourishment from the yolk sac from which they were born.  Nourishment is provided by the yolk sac for several weeks.  They stay below the river gravel until the sac is absorbed.  Once the sac has been absorbed the 'fry' begin to emerge from the gravel and swim freely looking for food for the first time.

Once an alevin's egg sac is absorbed, the fish has to find food for itself. This stage is called the 'Fry stage'.  The fry will swim about feeding on tiny invertebrates and on the carcasses of the spawned out adults; this is a very important food source at this stage.  Fry will learn to hide, deal with river currents, learn to school together and many other survival skills.

Fry live in fresh water anywhere from just a few days to two years. Smolting is a physiological change which when completed enables the fish to live in salt water and not absorb the salt into it's blood stream. They will then spend the next phase of their life in the ocean.  On to salt water!

 Ocean Life

Spawning

During their ocean phase Pacific Salmon are widely distributed over the North Pacific and Bering Sea.  Most will have extensive migrations from one to five years (depending on species). They then return to their native rivers to spawn.  The Ocean phase is the phase which we know the least about.  Would you like to unlock the secrets of the salmon's life in the ocean?  Set your sites on becoming a marine biologist.

The final stage. Where the cycle ends for one but and begins for another.  The mysterious secret world of the salmon is has encapsulated many of us.  The Adams River near Kamloops BC, is an excellent place to view millions of spawning Sockeye salmon.  The Seymour River also has several viewing opportunities for salmon such as Coho, Pinks, Chinook and Chum.  Visit the hatchery during spawning season for a glimpse into the fascinating world of the salmon.