Pink Salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Also known as Humpback salmon, Humpy, Gorbusch, Haddo, Holia
Culinary Profile
Pink salmon has a low oil content so it’s generally lean and mild-flavored.
Softer meat than most salmon with a small flake.
Pink salmon is low in sodium and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, niacin, vitamin B12, and selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pink salmon are the smallest of the Pacific salmon found in North America, weighing between 3.5 and 5 pounds, with an average length of 20 to 25 inches. Pink salmon can be distinguished from other Pacific salmon by the large dark oval spots on their back and entire tail fin as well as their general coloring and form.
Biology
Pink salmon are anadromous – they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers then migrate out to the saltwater environment of the ocean to feed and grow. Unlike coho , Chinook , or sockeye salmon, pink salmon do not reside in fresh water for an extended period. Young pink salmon (fry) typically migrate directly to estuarine and marine waters soon after they are born.
Where They Live
Range Pink salmon are found on both sides of the North Pacific, from Alaska to Puget Sound in Washington State and from Russia to North Korea. In North America, they’re found from the Arctic coast in Alaska and territories in Canada to central California, although they do not reproduce in significant numbers south of Puget Sound.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh from late summer to fall, and frozen and canned year-round.
Source
U.S. wild caught from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial harvest of pink salmon totaled approximately 425 million pounds and were valued at more than $101.4 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Almost all the pink salmon harvested in the United States comes from Alaska fisheries. Small numbers of pink salmon are also harvested off the West Coast, mainly Washington, especially in odd-numbered years (see the Science section for more about pink salmon’s unique two-year life cycle). Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Purse seines, gillnets, and reef nets are used to catch pink salmon. Purse seiners catch salmon by encircling them with a long net and drawing the bottom closed to capture the fish.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Pink Salmon ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 94.6 mg | 2 / 65 | 97% |
| Phosphorus | 261 mg | 9 / 111 | 92% |
| Vitamin D | 10.9 IU | 10 / 54 | 81% |
| Vitamin B12 | 4.15 µg | 23 / 106 | 78% |
| Protein | 20.5 g | 25 / 111 | 77% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 182 mg | 36 / 104 | 65% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 333 mg | 45 / 104 | 57% |
| Iron | 0.38 mg | 75 / 111 | 32% |
| Selenium | 31.4 µg | 89 / 106 | 16% |
| Zinc | 0.39 mg | 90 / 111 | 19% |
Other Species in Genus Oncorhynchus
4 close biological relatives of Pink Salmon profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | 19.93 | 944 | Smart Choice |
| Chum Salmon | Oncorhynchus keta | 20.14 | 394 | Smart Choice |
| Coho Salmon | Oncorhynchus kisutch | 21.62 | 656 | Smart Choice |
| Sockeye Salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | 22.25 | 471 | Smart Choice |
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pink Salmon.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pink Salmon, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the texture of Pink Salmon meat?
Softer meat than most salmon with a small flake.
Is Pink Salmon a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Pink Salmon provides 4.15 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 173% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
What else is Pink Salmon called?
Pink Salmon is also marketed as Humpback salmon, Humpy, Gorbusch, Haddo, Holia.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught pink salmon is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
Alaska: Pink salmon are the most abundant Pacific salmon. The Alaska Coho Salmon Assemblage consists of coho salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon, and chum salmon throughout southeast Alaska. There are 3 indicator stocks of coho salmon that are used to determine the status of the assemblage; these indicator stocks are Coho salmon - Auke Creek, Coho salmon - Berners River, and Co…
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage pink salmon on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Salmon Plan : Every year, the council reviews reports of the previous fishing season and current estimates of salmon abundance. Using this information, they make recommendations for management of the upcoming fishing season.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 22 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.