Sockeye salmon caught in Washington with lift nets during the early summer run is a "Best Choice." The populations are healthy, and management is effective. In addition, if salmon other than sockeye and pink are caught in the lift net fishery, they're returned to the water alive. Sockeye salmon is all wild-caught.

All other sources of sockeye salmon from Oregon and Washington are "Good Alternatives." Overfishing of the main sockeye salmon populations is not likely occurring, but salmon from endangered, threatened or depleted populations are also caught. Moderately effective management is challenged by the presence of depleted populations and other complex factors. Many salmon runs in Alaska and on the U.S. West Coast are augmented by large numbers of hatchery salmon, which could reduce the ability of wild populations to survive. Some sources of sockeye salmon are certified sustainable to the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council.