Pink salmon in Sweden

News

During the summer of 2025, we will once again investigate the occurrence of pink salmon in 28 watercourses from the River Strömån in Boshuslän to the River Mörrumsån in Blekinge.

Already now – June 27 –  pink salmon have been registered in the underwater camera in Herting in the River Ätran (Halland).

The project aims to

1. Give an overall picture of the distribution of spawning pink salmon on the Swedish west coast using a relatively new method called environmental DNA (eDNA).
2. Determine spawning success by examining whether there are any pink salmon fry in selected rivers.
3. Increase public awareness and reporting of pink salmon.

The new knowledge generated in the project will help develop proposals for future monitoring programs for pink salmon.

The project is carried out in collaboration with The County Administrative Board in Halland, The County Administrative Board in Västra Götaland, The County Administrative Board in Skåne, Mix Research Sweden och NINA (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research).

Results

In 2023, we conducted an eDNA study in 27 watercourses on the west and south coast of Sweden. The DNA results show the presence of pink salmon in 11 watersystems on the west coast, from the River Lagan in Halland to the River Örekilsälven in Bohuslän. No pink salmon DNA was found in rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea.

Look at the bottom of this page to see the specific rivers where pink salmon has been detected via eDNA, catches or underwater cameras.

Read more

Pink salmon distribution in Sweden: The calm before the storm?

Detection of Non-Native Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in Swedish Rivers Using eDNA

What is a pink salmon?

The pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, in Swedish 'puckellax') is an alien species in Sweden and has probably migrated here from the Kola Peninsula via Norway. SLU is investigating the spread of spawning pink salmon in Sweden and we need the public's help by reporting their sightings/catches of pink salmon.

The pink salmon has been observed in increased numbers in several western Swedish rivers since 2017. How it affects our native fish species, such as Atlantic salmon and trout, if it spawns in Swedish rivers is currently unknown. Nor is it known how it affects the aquatic ecosystem in general.

Pink salmon have a 2-year life cycle and spawn every other year (mainly odd years in Europe).They often spawn in July– August and after spawning the pinks die in the river. The young emerge from the gravel during the late winter - early spring of the year after spawning and quickly leave the waterways.

How to recognise a pink salmon

• The male develops a characteristic hump on his back before spawning. ​
• Black dots on the tail.
• Black tongue.
• A mature adult pink salmon is about 40–55 cm long.
• Download the information sheet with identifying features of pink salmon