Wednesday April 29, 2026
NOAA —
New NOAA-led research on the history of the rise of pink salmon in the Great Lakes may help fishery managers and communities on the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans tackle the recent rapid growth of the species in these new areas. It could also help those in the Pacific experiencing record high pink salmon abundance levels.
Pink salmon, a fish species native to the Pacific Ocean, was unintentionally spread in the 1950s to the Great Lakes. This fish, which has shown itself to be able to adapt well to new locations, foods and environments, is also now increasing in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. While it may be good to have a new fish to catch and eat, it’s not so simple. Invasive species carry challenges as well as benefits.
“We are only beginning to understand the impacts of pink salmon on Arctic and North Atlantic ecosystems, but we know that they could have significant effects on those who fish for other species, fishery managers and coastal communities,” said Joseph Langan, a fish biologist at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and lead author of the research, “The forgotten pink salmon in the Laurentian Great Lakes: an unexpected invasion with insights for three oceans.”