One of the world’s most iconic fish, the sockeye salmon is an important species for commercial fisheries, subsistence fishing, and for sport fishing.
Ocean phase sockeye are greenish above with silver flanks and small flecks of black. During their spawning phase, adults develop deep red bodies with green heads and tails.
During their spawning runs, sockeye are found in rivers and lakes of the Pacific Northwest.
Sockeye are also known as red or blue salmon.
A landlocked form of sockeye salmon, known as kokanee, spends its entire life in fresh water. Adult Kokanee reside in large lakes, eventually returning to natal streams or other areas to spawn.
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