What Is Wild Salmon?
Wild salmon is the general classification given to current salmon populations that have not been farm raised or grown in hatcheries. There are still wild salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, British Columbia, Japan and Russia but they are becoming diminished and in some cases are bordering on extinction. Many organizations have been working diligently to raise the population of wild salmon runs in an effort to rescue this important species.
Salmon Definition
Wild salmon include species of Steelhead, Chinook, Chum, Coho and Sockeye. These fish are anadromous which means they live in both fresh and saltwater during different periods of their life cycle. Salmon are born in the small creeks and tributaries of rivers spending the first several months of their life there. Within six months, they make their way down to the estuaries where their physical bodies begin to adapt to saltwater. They then live in the ocean for a period of three to four years feeding on krill and small oceanic shellfish. At the end of this period, they return to the same tributary from which they were born. This journey can involve swimming hundreds of upstream river miles over several weeks. Upon returning to the creek where they were born, the females lay their eggs, which the males than inseminate, a process called "spawning." Both adult fish die shortly after.
Wild vs. Farmed and Hatchery Salmon
In comparison, hatchery and farm-raised fish have been raised in containment. The goal of many fish hatcheries is to raise salmon until they reach the
"fingerling" stage of their life cycle, at about four months of age. At this point they are released into streams and rivers in an effort to bolster existing wild runs. Farm-raised fish are raised until they reach a size compatible with the commercial market and then sold for food processing.
Concern Regarding Hatchery Fish
There has been much controversy regarding the release of hatchery fish into the wild for fisheries biologists, environmentalists and people who make their living in the salmon fishing industry. Some argue that hatchery fish diminish the strength of the wild salmon's gene pool, and that allowing the two to intermingle and breed is weakening the species. Others respond by claiming that by introducing more fish into the system, not only is the species being saved from extinction, but that more genetic diversity is helpful in maintaining a strong and diverse fish population.
Controversy of Farm-Raised Fish
Farm-raised fish have come under scrutiny due to claims of environmental damage caused by raising thousands of fish in contained underwater pens. There is also speculation that farmed fish are raised on a diet filled with contaminants and pesticides that are then consumed by humans.
Preservation of Wild Salmon
Worldwide effort has been made in order to preserve natural runs of salmon populations and the ecosystems that support them. Non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies have been working with global partners to help save this key species. Salmon are considered "indicator" species because many other animals depend on them for survival. Without a strong salmon population, wildlife such as eagles, bears and seals who rely on salmon for their food source would struggle to survive.
