Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest). Coho Salmon.

This species profile summarizes taxonomy, morphology (biology), distribution, abundance, life history, and environmental requirements of coho salmon in the Pacific Southwest (California). Coho salmon are anadromous and enter freshwater in fall to spawn, after living in the ocean for two growing seasons. Spawning peaks in November to January. The fry hatch in spring and migrate to the ocean in about a year. Juvenile coho require a mixture of pools and riffles, abundant instream and bank cover, water temperatures of 10-50 C in summer, dissolved oxygen near saturation, and riffles with relatively little sediment and with abundant aquatic and terrestrial insects for food. Coho salmon support an extensive commercial and sport fishery. Habitats that support coho salmon are continually being destroyed or degraded; State, Federal, and private agencies are working to restore and enhance these habitats. Keywords: Estuaries, Fisheries, Animal migration, Growth(Physiology), Suspended sediments, Life cycles, Oxygen consumption, Feeding habits, Oncorhynchus kisutch, Reproduction(Physiology).