The salmon population in america

Salmoniformes or otherwise known as Salmon live in the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and can sometimes be found swimming in the Great Lakes. Many salmon are anadromous, which refers to how they’re born in freshwater, migrate to the sea, and return to freshwater to reproduce. Young salmon eat invertebrates, insects, and plankton, while adults eat other fish, eels, squid, and shrimp. They also break down nitrogen, supplying it to the plants and animals around them.

How salmon look can vary greatly from species to species. Species like Coho salmon have a metallic blue dorsal fin, while Atlantic salmon has black spots on their sides. Most of the salmon are one color when living in salt water, and then change color when they are on spawning grounds that are in freshwater. For example, The sockeye salmon are blue with some silver when in the ocean but when on spawning grounds they are red bodied and green-headed. Popular species of salmon in the US are the Chinook, Coho, Atlantic, and Sockeye salmon.

Salmon has been an effective resource for many years. Through the years Native Americans have relied on the yearly arrival of salmon and honor these fish in their cultural traditions. Salmon have been respected, not only as a food source but also as a spiritual symbol that should not be over-harvested or wasted. Salmon had thrived in spawning areas in the Columbia River, Garcia River, Connecticut River, and many more. There was between 10-12 million salmon in eastern North America. They were preserved through fishing methods and practices that protect the health of salmon runs. The tradition of sustainable harvesting for salmon began several years ago, but it came to an end when Europeans began intensive commercial fishing along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. By the early 1800’s Atlantic salmon numbers had declined so much that fish hatcheries were built in an effort to bolster populations. Populations in the Atlantic Ocean and in parts of the Pacific, as well as the rivers, have dropped dramatically from what they were. For example, in the Colorado River, the salmon population went down to 3% of what they were when Lewis and Clark were here. Salmon runs along the West Coast were greatly impacted at the start of industrialization, with great demands for fish to feed miners during the California Gold Rush. Also, sediment from mines would runoff into the water and have a tremendous effect on the health of salmon streams. By 1900, salmon runs in Washington and Oregon were declining. In the following time, overfishing for canneries, fish traps, clear-cut logging, dams, mining, and other habitat changes all took tolls on the once-prolific salmon runs.

Even though there are many threats facing salmon today there are still potential solutions that can solve the effects of humans on the salmon population. If we can create a way to allow salmon to pass through part of the dam, then they will still be able to migrate upstream. This way the dams can continue to produce electricity, and salmon are still able to get to their spawning grounds. Another solution is to get rid of the dams that are interfering with salmon migration. Several dams that are in the U. S. aren’t helping as much as they are hurting so taking them down will result in saving money and freedom for salmon to migrate.