How did Chinook salmon get into the Great Lakes?
How did Chinook salmon get into the Great Lakes? In the 1960s and 1970s, Pacific salmon were introduced to the Great Lakes as a way to control invasive species and increase sport fishing opportunities. The most common species of salmon found in the Great Lakes are Chinook salmon, also known as King salmon, and Coho salmon.
Why is Great Lakes salmon white?
White-fleshed king salmon don't have the genetic ability to break down their food and store the red-orange carotene in their muscle cells. The marbled flesh color sometimes found in king salmon comes from their limited ability to metabolize carotene, causing the flesh to take on a marbled look.
How did pink salmon get in the Great Lakes?
Pink salmon were accidentally introduced into Lake Superior in 1956 in Canadian waters and that single stocking event led to continued natural reproduction in the Great Lakes.