Top Sockeye Red Salmon Fishing Countries

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also known as red salmon, are prized for their vibrant reddish flesh, rich flavor, and high oil content. They are native to the North Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it, with major spawning runs in Alaska (USA), British Columbia (Canada), and parts of Russia and Japan. The top sockeye salmon fishing countries are the United States—primarily Alaska, which boasts the world’s largest wild sockeye runs—followed by Canada and Russia. Alaska’s Bristol Bay is renowned as the most productive sockeye fishery globally, supporting both commercial and subsistence fishing industries. Canada’s Fraser River system is also historically significant, though sockeye populations there have faced fluctuations. Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and surrounding waters contribute a considerable share to global sockeye harvests. These fisheries are tightly managed to ensure sustainability, given the species’ ecological and economic importance.

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