Juvenile Salmon & Ocean Ecosystem Survey: Zooplankton and Salmon Data

23 years of sampling from the Juvenile Salmon and Ocean Ecosystem Survey (JSOES), the longest-running salmon survey on the U.S. west coast. The data, collected by NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, demonstrates correlations between ocean conditions and the distribution, abundance, and survival of juvenile Columbia River salmon. It is used to develop mechanistic understanding and improve forecasts for salmon management.

Use Cases

• Forecasting adult salmon returns based on ocean indicator data mentioned in the description
• Modeling trophic dynamics and juvenile salmon survival in the Northern California Current ecosystem
• Evaluating the impact of changing ocean conditions versus freshwater mitigation efforts on salmon populations
• Supporting ecosystem-based management strategies for the Columbia River plume and nearshore ocean

Strengths

• 23 years of continuous sampling, making it the longest-running west coast salmon survey
• Data demonstrates clear correlations between ocean conditions and salmon survival metrics

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Oblique Bongo Tows for juvenile salmonid prey field index, as stated in the description.

Time Range

At least 23 years of sampling (FY20 marked the 23nd year)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 22:52:42.360169; freshness should be verified

Geography

Northern California Current (NCC) nearshore ecosystem and Columbia River (CR) plume