Knowra Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are migratory fish native to the North Atlantic and its rivers. They grow at sea, then many return to freshwater to reproduce.
Anadromy : A life-history pattern in which fish hatch in freshwater, grow at sea, and return to freshwater to reproduce. Atlantic salmon exemplify this movement between river and ocean habitats.
Atlantic salmon aquaculture : The farming of Atlantic salmon, primarily in marine net pens and land-based systems. Farmed Atlantic salmon supply much of the fish sold commercially.
Marine-derived nutrients : Nutrients originating in the ocean and transferred into terrestrial or freshwater ecosystems. Spawning salmon can carry ocean nutrients into rivers and surrounding habitats.
Pacific salmon : Salmon species native to the Pacific basin, including sockeye, chum, and Chinook salmon. Most Pacific salmon die after spawning, unlike Atlantic salmon, which may spawn repeatedly.
Smoltification : A suite of physiological changes that prepares juvenile salmonids for migration from freshwater to saltwater. This transition enables young Atlantic salmon to survive their first ocean entry.
Salmon fishery : The capture and management of salmon for food, recreation, or trade. Wild Atlantic salmon fisheries depend on returning adults and regulated harvest.
Atlantic salmon decline : The long-term reduction of wild Atlantic salmon abundance across many parts of its native range. Population losses have altered fisheries and raised concerns about river ecosystems.
Brown trout : A salmonid fish, Salmo trutta, found in freshwater and coastal waters across Europe and beyond. Brown trout are close relatives and can share rivers with Atlantic salmon, but generally lack its ocean-migrating life cycle.
Salmonid homing : The ability of salmonids to return to their natal river or nearby spawning habitat. Returning adults use migration cues to reach freshwater spawning grounds.
Catch and release : A fishing practice in which captured fish are returned alive to the water. It is used to reduce harvest of wild Atlantic salmon, though handling can still cause harm.
Show all 22