Classification between Salmon and Steelhead

[FishFreak]

From what I have read and spoken to a few people about that steelhead are being classified under the same classification as salmon, as everyone kows a steelhead is a Trout and not a salmon, Im having bit of a debate on another forum bout this, and im pretty sure a steelhead is classafied under salmon

anyone else wanna pitch in here and tell me more

[patches]

steelhead fall under the province..and salmon under d.f.o . it is a trout and if you call it a salmon then a sea run cutthroat and dollys and browns and brooks and bull trout ........... see...they all have a counterpart that evolved to go to the sea.they would all have to be salmon if that is the case eh? i dont think they are .i know that some people still call them the steelhead salmon ..but..thats just not true in todays understanding of fish biology .:beerchug:

[phearless]

Steelhead are classified as salmon.
family Onchorynchus.
Trout are the family Salmo
eg. cutthroat are Salmo Clarki Clarki.

Steelhead are Onchorynchus Mykiss.

But having said that, steelhead will always be trout to me.

[Oz.]

...as everyone kows a steelhead is a Trout and not a salmon, ...

...anyone else wanna pitch in here and tell me more

It depends where you look, I guess . The DFO site on Aquaculture refers to Steelhead Trout.

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Aquaculture...teelhead_e.htm

Yet the DFO site for Pacific Region salmon quotes...

Quick Facts:
Scientific name: Oncorhynchus mykiss.
Steelhead were at one time considered a trout species but have been discovered by biologists to be more closely related to Pacific salmon than other trout.
The fresh water variant of steelhead is known as rainbow trout.
Unlike most other Pacific salmon, some steelhead individuals live to spawn more than once.

but on the same page quotes "Steelhead trout can be found from southern California to the Alaska panhandle, with major spawning grounds centered between Oregon and northern BC in coastal rivers and streams as well as tributaries to major river systems."


http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species...teelhead_e.htm

[SalaR]

Unfortunately, DFO in their self diluteing personal interest to ensure their stable retirement issues will permanantley classify Steelhead as Salmon ,and not bend; therefore be able to regulate the total demise of this pain in the a.ss species. DFO has always regulated the Steelhead because of the SaltWater aspects of their Life Cycles....and because they have a ruleing on past Steelhead harvests. DFO is not going to ensure the continued survival of Steelhead...we are!
C

[SalaR]

Steelhead are classified as salmon.
family Onchorynchus.
Trout are the family Salmo
eg. cutthroat are Salmo Clarki Clarki.

Steelhead are Onchorynchus Mykiss.

But having said that, steelhead will always be trout to me.

I have always wondered about that ..considering that I grew up fishing Atlantic Salmon on the East Coast ...Hence the name SalaR (Salmo Salar)

[phearless]

Hi SalaR.
Atlantics are very close relatives of the brown trout.
Salmo Trutta.

[SalaR]

Apparently genetically speaking the Browns and the Atlantics are almost identical.....listening to this arguement makes one wonder why our infinent superiors(DFO) can't distinguish between wild strain Pacific Salmon and Steelhead...in classification of course!
C

[patches]

salmo refers to Atlantic's (salmo salar )and some trout species from east coast and Europe..e.g browns.(salmo trutta fario )and the black sea salmon
(salmo labrax)

...but oncorhynchus refers to more than just salmon and steelhead its also takes in all western and pacific trout . you put an oncorhynchus before all cutthroat trout e.g onchorhynchus-clarki clarki coastal cutthroat ...... oncorhynchus-clarki-lewisi west slope cutthroat.....oncorhynchus-clarki-macdonald yellow fin (all gone and dead )..... oncorhynchus -clarki-stomias green back. and the rainbow family..... oncorhynchus mykiss- the mighty steelhead oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii-the Columbia red band rainbow .even the golden trout is the oncorhynchus- mykiss -aguabonita so all the western trout are not salmon but they are referred to as oncorhynchus like all pacific trout and salmon are .this does not make them a salmon or put them under a salmon category....but i do not know the opinion of d.f.o. bios' on the subject.or how they classify them. look up oncorhynchus on the web at wikipedia for more details....
steelhead are a salt water rainbow trout and thats clear to all that have held been blessed by being in there presents.

[phearless]

I stand corrected.
Thanks Patches.
Apparently I had misinterpreted the info I had.
Still stuck half way between the old names and the new.
But as far as know, the feds have re-classified steelies as salmon.
This was from one of the head honchos for the old BC Fisheries,now retired.
I agree with your take on the matter SalaR.
Why can't they see?