Top Pink Humpback Salmon Fishing Countries

Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), also known as humpback salmon due to the pronounced hump males develop during spawning, are the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon species. They are primarily found in the northern Pacific Ocean and rivers that flow into it. The top countries harvesting pink salmon are Russia and the United States, particularly in Alaska. Russia, especially in the Far East regions such as Sakhalin and Kamchatka, leads global production, followed closely by the U.S., where Alaskan fisheries contribute the majority of the American catch. Both countries have developed large-scale commercial fisheries, with pink salmon being a crucial species for canned and frozen seafood markets. Japan and Canada also have significant, though smaller, pink salmon fisheries, mainly for domestic consumption and local markets. The pink salmon industry is vital for coastal communities, supporting both commercial and subsistence fishing, and is managed through strict regulations to ensure sustainability.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.