Chinook salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Also known asTyee · Quinnat
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 3000 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 45% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.10% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.70% of body weight
- Max density
- 50 g per litre
A 12000 g adult eats about 132.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~1320 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | permit required | verified 2026-05-13 |
| Alaska | legal | Native species in Alaska verified 2026-05-13 |
| New South Wales | prohibited | verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to Pacific coast rivers from central California north through British Columbia, Alaska, and across to Japan and Siberia. The species (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is the largest Pacific salmon, with exceptional wild specimens exceeding 60 kg (though most adults are 5–25 kg). Called king salmon in Alaska and tyee in British Columbia, chinook are anadromous: juveniles rear in freshwater rivers and streams for 3-18 months before migrating to the ocean, where they spend 2-6 years before returning to their natal river to spawn and die (semelparous lifecycle, unlike Atlantic salmon which can survive spawning). The flesh is the highest in fat content among Pacific salmon species, deep red-orange in color, and considered the premium salmon product for both commercial and sport fisheries. Wild chinook populations have declined severely across much of their range due to dam construction, habitat degradation, and ocean condition changes; multiple runs are listed as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. Aquaculture of chinook is established primarily in New Zealand (where stocks were introduced in the early 1900s) and in small-scale operations in British Columbia.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- cold-water (cool water required, dies in heat)
- USDA zones
- 3–7 (winter low around -40°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- no
- Cooling needed
- yes, if summer water exceeds upper tolerance
Care notes
Not a practical species for home aquaponics, included for completeness. Chinook salmon require cold water (8–14°C), very high dissolved oxygen (above 8 mg/L), and pristine water quality. Growth in freshwater is inherently limited: the juvenile (parr) phase produces a fish of only 5–15 g before the animal's biology signals smoltification and the drive to migrate to saltwater. Growing chinook past the smolt stage in freshwater is possible but fights the species' physiology; most land-based operations focus on smolt production with marine net-pen grow-out. New Zealand produces chinook in both sea cages and freshwater raceways (about 15,000 tonnes annually). FCR in marine culture is 1.3-1.7 on high-fat salmon pellet. For freshwater aquaponics, rainbow trout, arctic char, or land-based Atlantic salmon RAS are far more practical options. Chinook fingerlings are rarely available to non-commercial buyers due to conservation protections on most wild stocks. Regulations are strict: culture permits require compliance with genetic management protocols to prevent impacts on wild populations.