U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

Salmon are an anadromous fish: they spawn and raise juveniles in freshwater rivers, then migrate to saltwater to feed, grow, and mature before returning to freshwater to spawn. If global use of fossil fuels continues increasing through 2075, climate models indicate that stream temperatures will become too warm for many salmon, reducing their habitat in Washington by 22%. This translates to around $3 billion in economic losses. Freshwater trout are also sensitive to habitat connectivity and wildfire, so land management practices will affect how trout respond to climate change. Overall, commercial fishing productivity is expected to decline as climate changes.