Anyone who is familiar with the sockeye salmon's lifecycle may think the fish is pretty bright, or at least has a great memory. That's because this fish, which is also known as the red salmon or blueback salmon, is born in a river, swims to the ocean - where it spends several years - and eventually finds its way back to its birthplace to reproduce. Based on a study from researchers at Oregon State University, the sockeye salmon's incredible memory may owe a lot to magnetic fields, like the ones produced by rare Earth magnets. Learning the truth To discover how these talented fish know how to return home after so many years away, the researchers analyzed 56 years of fisheries data on sockeye salmon that returned to the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada, according to a university press release. Based on the route the fish took to get home, researchers believe that the planet's magnetic fields help the salmon create a geomagnetic map they rely on later in life. "What we think happens is that when salmon leave the river system as juveniles and enter the ocean, they imprint the magnetic field - logging it in as a waypoint," said the study's lead author Nathan Putman, a post-doctoral researcher at Oregon State University. "It serves as a proxy for geographic location when they return as adults. It gets them close to their river system and then other, finer cues may take over." Overcoming barriers In the case of the sockeye salmon, the study focused on, these fish face a major barrier when they finally decide to return home. "When they attempt to return, they are confronted with a giant obstacle: Vancouver Island is blocking direct access to their river," Putman said. "So the fish must make a choice: Do they use the northern inlet or the southern inlet in their detour?" To literally get around this problem, researchers said sockeye salmon turn to their geomagnetic maps and follow magnetic fields that are similar to the ones they imprinted at an earlier point in their life. Then, the fish choose a route that's assumed to lead them back to their home. Discover More With Apex Magnets Today It's believed that other forms of marine life, including sea turtles and seals, use similar methods for getting around, which you can read all about here. For an even deeper dive into how animals are using magnetic fields to navigate, check out this blog or subscribe to our newsletter today.