All species are born in freshwater streams and migrate to the ocean as juveniles. Salmon are known for their grueling migrations. and Canadian Pacific Northwest, as well as in Japan. Pacific salmon species are found throughout the western U.S. In addition to the small North American population, groups of Atlantic salmon are also found in coastal rivers of northeastern Europe, including Iceland and northwestern Russia. today, Atlantic salmon are found only in a handful of rivers in Maine. and Canada, but overfishing and habitat destruction following European settlement dramatically reduced their numbers. HabitatĪtlantic salmon were once abundant throughout the North Atlantic coast off the U.S. Many species of salmon are considered keystone species-vital to the health of their ecosystem. (Here are some tips to make sure you’re buying sustainable salmon.) The Atlantic salmon was nearly fished to extinction-the commercial market is now almost exclusively farm-raised fish. Wild salmon is fished extensively for food, both recreationally and commercially. The seven species of Pacific salmon typically range in length from a foot and a half to two and a half feet. Male sockeye salmon develop humps on their backs. Pacific salmon undergo significant transformations when returning to freshwater from the ocean: Some species go from silver to a deep maroon others turn a deep black. Atlantic salmon are the largest salmon species, typically growing to just under four feet in length. When they migrate to the ocean, they turn silvery. While in freshwater, Atlantic salmon are brown and spotted.

Salmons have sleek, streamlined bodies that typically change color throughout their lifetimes. They’re found in tributaries of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and most species are anadromous: They are born in streams and rivers, migrate out to the open sea, and then return to freshwater again to reproduce. In Scotland farmers use a organic, naturally sourced pigment, derived from the fermentation of a micro-organism and with no additives or preservatives.Salmons include seven species of Pacific salmon and one species of Atlantic salmon. These properties stimulate immune systems and can improve fertility and growth. READ MORE: Scottish Salmon Sector's 5 Key PledgesĪstaxanthin, which can be synthesised or biologically grown, is a powerful antioxidant and source of pro-vitamin A. There are more than 600 naturally occurring carotenoids they are what make carrots and pumpkins orange, daffodils and sweetcorn yellow and what produces the spectacular colour changes in autumn leaves.įor animals such as pink flamingos and through to the vibrant red sockeye salmon, which feed on crustaceans and plankton, the carotenoid responsible for their eye-catching colours is called Astaxanthin. Ranging from orange to ivory-pink, flesh coloration is a result of the levels of organic pigments, known as carotenoids, present in what the fish has eaten. The colour of a salmon’s flesh, whether wild or farmed, is determined by its diet.

Salmon fish