Fish Migration

Many fishes migrate long distances to spawn.  In order\r\nto better understand these movements, scientists have classified these\r\nmigrations into several categories.

Anadromous fish are born in freshwater, then migrate to\r\nthe ocean as juveniles where they grow into adults before migrating back\r\ninto freshwater to spawn.

Examples: salmon, smelt, American shad, hickory shad,\r\nstriped bass, lamprey, gulf sturgeon

Catadromous fish are born in saltwater, then migrate\r\ninto freshwater as juveniles where they grow into adults before\r\nmigrating back into the ocean to spawn.

Examples: American eel, European eel, inanga, shortfin eel,\r\nlongfin eel

Amphidromous fish are born in freshwater/estuaries,\r\nthen drift into the ocean as larvae before migrating back into freshwater to\r\ngrow into adults and spawn.

Examples: bigmouth sleeper, mountain mullet, sirajo goby,\r\nriver goby, torrentfish, Dolly Varden

Potamodromous fish are born in upstream freshwater habitats,\r\nthen migrate downstream (still in freshwater) as juveniles to grow into\r\nadults before migrating back upstream to spawn.

Examples: sicklefin redhorse, lake sturgeon, robust\r\nredhorse, flathead catfish

Oceanodromous fish are born near spawning grounds, then drift\r\non ocean currents as larvae before settling as juveniles to grow into adults\r\nbefore migrating back to spawning grounds.

Examples: black grouper, mutton snapper, goliath grouper

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Although these different types of migration classifications\r\nmay be difficult to pronounce, they are important to understand in order to\r\nhelp maintain connectivity between critical habitats.

Source: thefisheriesblog.com