Guide to Wild-Caught Salmon in B.C.

Intercity Packers has been trusted by the finest restaurants and retailers across Canada to source, process and distribute wild-caught salmon during the fresh season. Our direct relationship with the most reputable sources, coupled with our team of seafood processors’ expertise for custom-cutting salmon to exacting specifications, is what sets our supply of fresh, wild-caught salmon apart.

Product Highlights

Ocean Wise recommended options
Daily shipments for optimal freshness
Carefully processed by seafood experts
Strict standards for food safety and quality control
Maximize yield with varying specifications for fillets and portions

History of the BC Salmon Fishery

In the late 1800s, BC salmon was mainly used for canning, which allowed for global exporting. With varying wild salmon stock, processing options were diversified in the mid-late 1990s, which included an increased push on fresh and frozen options. Intercity Packers, known then as Albion Fisheries, started building a reputation as a key processor of salmon in the 1960s in Vancouver.

Comparing Wild-Caught Pacific Salmon Species

British Columbia is home to 5 species of wild Pacific salmon, each with their unique set of characteristics. Selecting the right variety of salmon for your menu application during the fresh season can depend on a number of factors, including: flavour preference, culinary application, availability, sustainability and budget. As well, consider the labour and yield required to prepare the salmon to your standards.

Sockeye Salmon

Size Range: 2-10+ lb
Fresh Availability: May - September
Available Fresh Cuts: Head-Off, Fillets, Portions
Profile: Bold and rich “salmon” flavour due to lean meat, and texture is firm with tighter flesh. Versatile for center-of-the-plate and smoking applications. Most famous of the species caught in BC thanks to the distinctive bright red-coloured flesh.

Coho Salmon

Size Range: 4-10+ lb
Fresh Availability: July - October
Available Fresh Cuts: Head-On, Fillets
Profile: Milder and sweet flavour compared to Sockeye, and the flesh is firm and fine textured. Best for center-of-the-plate applications that compliment the tender, buttery flesh, such as baking, poaching, and pan-searing.

Spring Salmon

Size Range: 4-18+ lb
Fresh Availability: February - September
Available Fresh Cuts: Head-On, Head-Off, Fillets
Profile: Flavour is buttery and rich and the texture is moderately firm with larger flakes. Best for center-of-the-plate applications. Flesh is typically red but can also be ivory/white in colour, although this variation doesn’t affect the flavour or texture of the flesh.

Spring Salmon

Size Range: 2-6+ lb
Fresh Availability: July - September
Available Fresh Cuts: Head-On, Head-Off, Fillets
Profile: Flavour is very mild and delicate and the texture is soft. Typically further processed for canned and smoked products, although it can be used as a value option for center-of-the-plate applications. As the name suggests, the flesh is typically a pale pink-orange colour.

Chum Salmon

Size Range: 6+ lb
Fresh Availability: July - August
Available Fresh Cuts: Head-Off, Fillets
Profile: Mild and delicate flavour with a firm flesh, typically used for similar applications to Pink salmon. Some chum are considered “Silverbright” which are high-quality, young chum with bright skin that shines in center-of-the-plate applications. At the spawning ground, the skin turns a green, brown or even purple colour and flavour and texture weakens.

Deep Dive Into The Wild Salmon Fishery in BC

With consideration for the fishermen that harvest the catch, the processors like Intercity Packers that distribute the salmon across Canada, and the restaurants that serve salmon-focused dishes on their menus, the wild salmon fishery plays an important role in our local economy. In respect to roles specifically in the commercial fishing industry, approximately 4,000 Canadian workers are employed.

Notable Catch Areas In BC

The 5 distinct Pacific salmon species are found in countless waterways throughout BC and are carefully harvested by Canadians fishing crews. To put into perspective, there are more than 8,000 distinct salmon stocks populating the Pacific ocean, rivers, and creeks throughout BC.

A few key catch areas in BC that Intercity Packers sources from includes:

Nass River
Skeena River
Fraser River
Barkley Sound.

Common Catch Methods

Trolling (Hook and line) is a highly selective fishing method where fish are caught one at a time with baited hooks attached to a line. The lines are spread out on long poles that extend over the sides of the boat and the fish are reeled in by hand. Altering the type and arrangement of lures used on lines allows specific species to be targeted.

Gillnets are wide fishing nets that resemble a curtain and hang in the waterway. As the name implies, gillnets are designed to catch fish by their gills as they swim through. The placement of the net and the size of the mesh is designed to be just large enough for the target salmon species, which allows the fishing crew to be highly selective with their catch.

Wild Salmon Trim Guide

The expert seafood team at Intercity Packers excels at meeting customer demands efficiently while maximizing yield. To ensure freshness, the first shift starts before 5 AM every shipping day to process just-in-time (JIT) orders for same day delivery.