Pacific salmon

Pacific salmon are a group of six species of fish belonging to the genus Oncorhynchus found in the northern Pacific Ocean. These anadromous fish, meaning they live most of their lives in saltwater but return to freshwater rivers to reproduce, include species like sockeye, coho, chum, chinook, and pink salmon.12

Pacific salmon are known for their incredible spawning migrations, often returning to the exact freshwater streams where they were born. They navigate using their sense of smell and, in some cases, Earth's magnetic field. During the breeding season, adult salmon stop eating and rely on stored energy reserves for their arduous journey and the physiological changes needed for spawning. This intense reproductive effort leads to their death shortly after spawning, a strategy known as semelparity.123