(Nearly) All About Salmon in a Nutshell: Salmon Facts

Salmon is the common name used to refer to more than 70 species of fish in the Salmonidae family. Other fishes that belong to the same family are called trout. The distinction lies in the fact that trout are resident while the salmon are migratory in nature. Salmon are mostly found in the Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean with some species are also introduced as freshwater varieties in North America’s Great Lakes.

Generally, salmon migrate long distances to spawn. Their anadromous nature allows them to travel up streams and rivers in long distances. The normal process involves being born in fresh water, migrating to the ocean and going back to fresh water for reproduction purposes. However, some species stay in freshwater their entire lives.

The life cycle of salmon starts with eggs which are laid in freshwater at high altitudes. These eggs hatch into sac fry and develop into parr. After 6 months to three years of staying in the stream where they were hatched, the parr develop into smolts with bright silver color and easily rubbed off scales. Based on estimates, only 10% of all salmon eggs can survive to the stage of becoming smolts. What allows them to live in salt water is the ability of the smolts to change their body chemistry. Before they live in the ocean, smolts spend some time living in brackish waters in order to have their bodies accustomed to a new environment.

Depending on the species, most salmon stay in the open oceans for about 1-5 years until they mature and become ready to reproduce. Primarily, sexually mature salmon goes back to their natal stream and spawn. Every salmon go through changes before spawning. The most common changes include developing canine teeth, kype and hump. Their silvery blue color while in the salty ocean will change to a darker hue. As the fish stay longer in freshwater, their condition continues to weaken. They are called kelts after spawning and deteriorate further. For the Pacific salmon species, mature fishes normally die after a few days or weeks from spawning. For the Atlantic salmon, on the other hand, between 2% and 4% of females may survive allowing them to spawn more than once. But in general, the mortality rate of salmon is relatively high after spawning.

There is only one species of salmon which can be found in the Atlantic Ocean and it is scientifically known as Salmo salar. Reproduction of this species occurs in the northern rivers that can be found in both coasts of the ocean. The member of the species that remains non-migratory live in the lakes of Northern Europe and North America. Even when they have access to the sea, they remain in the lakes and have evolved independently.

Salmon Species and Types

Salmon is often sold or prepared from the following categories:

• Chinook Salmon (or the King Salmon). It is the largest of all species of Pacific salmon and usually weighs more than 14 kilograms (30 lbs). It is usually sold fresh, smoked or frozen and seldom sold canned.
• Sockeye Salmon (or Red Salmon). This is the second most wanted salmon species after the chinook. It measures 60-70 cm in length and weighs between 2 and 3 kg. This kind of salmon is ideal for canning purposes. It can also be found smoked or salted.
• Coho Salmon (or Silver Salmon). On the average, this species of salmon measures 45-60 cm in length and weighs 2 to 4.5 kg (4 to 10 lbs). It is commonly used for canned salmon but can also be bought fresh, frozen or smoked.
• Pink Salmon (or humpies). It is the smallest of all species of Pacific salmon and weighs an average of 1.8 kilograms (4 lbs). The quality of pink salmon is considered poor because it can easily break into pieces. This type of salmon is usually sold canned.
• KETA Salmon. Weighing around 5 to 6 kilograms (11 to 13 lbs), the meat is mild, spongy and breaks into pieces easily. But being low in fat is an advantage.

Salmon Nutrition Facts

Categorized as an oily fish, salmon is a healthy food because it is high in protein, omega 3 and vitamin D. It can help fight cardiovascular diseases and prevent the build-up of bad cholesterol in the body. The following health benefits are said to be attained if salmon is made a regular part of one’s diet. However, it’s for sure not advisable to rely on eating salmon alone.

• Effective for weight loss and control
• Reduces the risk of heart diseases
• Helps in normalizing blood pressure and improves the body’s ability to respond to insulin
• Minimizes the risk of mouth, skin, colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers
• Lowers the risk of breast cancer in women
• Protects the body from muscular degeneration related to age
• Prevents age-related cognitive decline like Alzheimer’s disease