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The NWFSC Scientific Publications Database serves as an archival repository of NWFSC-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, technical memorandums, reports, or other information authored or co-authored by NWFSC or funded partners. As a repository, the SPD retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.

NOAA Fisheries Northwest Science Center Publication Details

CitationJoshua Chamberlin, Max R. Lambert, Eric M. Beamer, W. Todd Zackey, Doris Small, Paul Cereghino, and Stephanie Ehinger. 2026. Juvenile salmonids transit through marine waters to access non-natal habitats for rearing. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 83: 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2024-0313 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2024-0313)
TitleJuvenile Pacific salmon exhibit non-natal rearing via habitat shifting through the marine environment
Publication Year2026
Keywordslife history, pacific salmon, chinook salmon, habitat use, non-natal
AbstractAnadromous salmon exemplify numerous life history strategies as they transition between freshwater and marine environments during their complex life cycles. Importantly, this life history diversity varies among species and populations and is well understood to provide resilience. However, substantial habitat degradation and loss over the last century has likely impacted the opportunity for life history expression which may contribute to recent population declines. Among the myriad management actions underway, protecting and restoring juvenile rearing habitat has been identified as critical to salmon recovery. Much of that effort has focused on juvenile rearing habitat within natal watersheds (i.e., the watersheds where salmon spawn and emerge). This is appropriately due to the assumption that juvenile salmon primarily rear in their natal watersheds before dispersing to mature in the ocean. However, observations over the past two decades have revealed that juvenile salmon will also succ
Official CitationJoshua Chamberlin, Max R. Lambert, Eric M. Beamer, W. Todd Zackey, Doris Small, Paul Cereghino, and Stephanie Ehinger. 2026. Juvenile salmonids transit through marine waters to access non-natal habitats for rearing. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 83: 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2024-0313
Links (http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2024-0313)