The Origins of Salmon Farming

Salmon are not only a source of food, but represent a true masterpiece of nature. It is believed that the evolutionary ancestors of salmon date back to at least 180 million years ago. Today, there are seven species of salmon: the Atlantic salmon, and six Pacific salmon species, including Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, pink, and the masu salmon found in Asia.

Most wild salmon populations have declined in recent years. Although the reasons for this decline are not entirely clear, climate change, overfishing, and freshwater habitat destruction are thought to have had significant impacts. Salmon farming originated with hatcheries developed in the 1880’s for enhancing wild populations.

Today, between Oregon and Alaska, there are about 150 salmon hatcheries that release about 2 billion young salmon every year. Of all the salmon that return annually to spawn in the Pacific Northwest, it is estimated that about half originate in a hatchery.

Salmon farming has evolved from enhancement of wild species to the complete production of salmon from egg to harvest. The production from salmon farming has been increasing steadily and has surpassed the total wild catch for the past 5 years.