Do salmon in the Great Lakes naturally?

Salmon are not a native fish species to the Great Lakes. There is another non-native fish species that was introduced to these bodies of water that is also an invasive species–sea lamprey. These fish were accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes between 1936-1946.



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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.

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Once adult pacific salmon re-enter fresh water on their way to spawning grounds, they stop eating. This is why it is so important to gather nutrients while in the saltwater. If they are unable to store the energy required to make migration they will not survive long enough to reproduce.

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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.

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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.

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Enjoy Great Lakes fish safely. Some fish found in Michigan's rivers, streams, and areas of the Great Lakes have high amounts of chemical contamination. PCBs, dioxins, or mercury can accumulate in the fat and flesh of fish. As a result, eating some types of fish too often can cause health proglrms.

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