Pink salmon are native to Pacific ocean from northern Japan across to northern California and all the way up to the Arctic Ocean.

The Pink Salmon can be found in the Arctic waters and feeder rivers and streams of eastern Russia, Alaska and western Canada. Unlike the Chum Salmon, they will not travel inland several thousand miles or kilometres.

On average, Pink Salmon will go inland about 60 to 100 miles/ 100 to 160 kilometres. However, they have been known to head inland several hundred kilometres in some areas.

Distribution Introduction

Pink Salmon have been introduced to Newfoundland, located on the eastern coast of Canada.

In central Canada and the United States, the Pink Salmon was introduced to the west coast of Lake Superior.

So far, these populations of Pink Salmon appear to be stable and growing with reports of them being found in in Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. It is believe that these populations have grown out of the Pink Salmon that were introduced into Newfoundland.

And, from the introduction to Lake Superior, they have been found in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, to a lesser extent.

Endangered Species Status

While the population of Pink Salmon is considered very healthy by most measures, there are some streams and rivers in California ans Washington that are under threat. The endangered species act measures populations of fish to be a separate species if they are isolated from other populations when spawning.