Wednesday March 18, 2026
Phys —
Today, most of the salmon consumed in Japan is imported from countries like Chile and Norway, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. But just two decades ago, Japanese chum salmon made up a much larger share of domestic salmon consumption. Their numbers have declined sharply in recent years, and new research from Hokkaido University suggests that this decline may be linked to the loss of their natural habitats along their migratory routes.
In findings first published in December 2025 in Scientific Reports, researchers show that marine conditions in the North Pacific have significantly reduced suitable habitat for Japanese chum salmon over the past 25 years.