Sex-specific growth in invasive pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from two regions in northern Norway

Male Oncorhynchus gorbuscha from Varangerfjord in northern Norway show the highest marine somatic growth, reaching 17–21% greater cumulative circuli distance across periods.

• Why it matters: Regional establishment of pink salmon depends on marine growth and survivorship, yet sex- and location-specific growth differences during invasion remain unclear.
• What they did: Pink salmon were captured in Varangerfjord (Finnmark) and Oksfjord (Troms) during summer 2023 return migration; body size and scale circuli distances were used to estimate growth across four marine periods.
• The result: Growth rates were highest in spring of both years (periods 1 and 4) and significantly lower in fall/winter (periods 2 and 3), with Varanger males showing the strongest overall growth linked to more favorable conditions.

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