The 2025 Great Lakes salmon migration is in full swing.
Some people may read that sentence and feel excitement. Most people will read that sentence and have no idea what it means.
The life cycle of a salmon is split into three main stages. All salmon species are birthed in freshwater streams throughout the coastal regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. From there, millions of salmon migrate to the ocean where they mature for most of their lifespan. When the time comes, these resilient fish migrate thousands of kilometres back to their original freshwater stream, a.k.a their home waters, in order to spawn, die, and let their offspring continue the cycle.
With the Great Lakes being an ever-giving, diverse ecosystem, salmon have adapted and are able to spend their whole lives, exclusively, in these in-land seas. These fish are classified as landlocked – salmon that establish their home waters in tributaries of lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
This annual fish activity has brought seasonal tourism booms to towns such as Port Hope, Thunder Bay, and Pulaski as people travel far and wide to witness these tenacious fish return home.
A lot of governing bodies have done their part in enforcing rules and regulations during this time of the year to ensure that salmon have enough time and space to complete the cycle of life. Unfortunately, year after year, there continues to be ignorance and unethical fishing activity during fall salmon migrations.
It is our duty to educate ourselves and respect the outdoors in order to enjoy all of Mother Nature’s beauty.
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