Atlantic Salmon
Latin
Name: Salmo salar
Family:
Salmonidae
Other Names:
Ouananiche, Kennebec salmon, landlocked
salmon, Sebago salmon, black salmon,
braton
Appearance:
Juvenile parr have pigmented
bars and row of red spots. Adults
at sea are silvery on sides and belly
with brown, green or blue coloration
on back and distinctive cross-hatched
spots above the lateral line. Landlocked
adults have larger spots than anadromous
(sea-going) adults. Spawning adults
develop blackish fins, bronze to purple
coloration and reddish spots. Surviving
adults (kelts) are dark in colour.
Average weight: 4.5-5.5 kilograms
(Landlocked: 1-2 kilograms).
Range:
Native to the North Atlantic Ocean
basin. In eastern Atlantic, extends
from the Arctic Ocean to Portugal,
including the Baltic Sea. In western
Atlantic, ranges from Iceland, southern
Greenland and Ungava Bay, Quebec to
the Connecticut River on eastern US
coast. North American and southern
European salmon migrate to the Davis
Straits between Labrador and Greenland.
Salmon from the Baltic Sea and British
Isles migrate to the coast of the
Faroe Islands. Historically inhabited
North American streams to Hudson River,
New York, St. Lawrence River tributaries
and Lake Ontario. Landlocked populations
now partially restored to Great Lakes,
New England, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
and Newfoundland in North America.
Raised commercially in pens in marine
waters of British Columbia and State
of Washington.
Life
History: Young salmon spend
one to three years in freshwater,
then move to saltwater for an ocean
migration of up to two thousand miles,
returning to natal streams to spawn
by the age of five years. Surviving
kelts (spawned adults) repeat the
migration and spawning cycle.
Further
Facts: Salmon of the Salmo:
The Atlantic salmon is a member
of the Salmonidae family, but belongs
to the genus Salmo, rather than
the genus Oncorhynchus of the Pacific
salmon. An oceanic trout, Atlantic
salmon have fewer anal fin rays
(eight to twelve) than the Pacific
salmon, and less developed teeth
in the roof of their mouth. They
are also often "iteroparous,
spawning more than once before they
die. Some Atlantic salmon are anadromous
(seagoing), while others remain
in freshwater throughout their lives.
Life
History: Young salmon spend
one to three years in freshwater,
then move to saltwater for an ocean
migration of up to two thousand
miles, returning to natal streams
to spawn by the age of five years.
Surviving kelts (spawned adults)
repeat the migration and spawning
cycle.
Ancient
History: Once abundant throughout
Europe, the Atlantic salmon was
prized by the Gauls and the Romans.
Ending a centuries-old commercial
industry in the British Isles, the
last Atlantic salmon of the Thames
River was caught in 1833. Overfishing
and the erection of mill dams ended
a similar bounty in Lake Ontario
by 1890. The Atlantic salmon, native
and restored, remains a highly valued
sport fish.
A
Name for Every age: Atlantic
salmon are often referred to according
to their life stage, including parr
(freshwater juvenile), smolt (juvenile
migrating to sea), grilse (adult
returning to freshwater to spawn
after one year at sea), bright salmon
(adult returning after 2 or more
years), kelt or black salmon (a
post-spawning or spent adult).
Restoration Results: Centuries
of commercial harvest have greatly
reduced Atlantic salmon stocks and
resulted in fishing moratoriums
in some areas. Restoration efforts
of both anadromous (seagoing) and
landlocked Atlantic salmon have
been intensive throughout the northeastern
United States and central and eastern
Canada. Atlantic salmon are also
raised commercially in pens in the
ocean waters of British Columbia
and Washington State.
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