The Salmon’s biology, life cycle habits and habitat
Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar)
Family: SALMONIDAE
Genus: Salmo
Species: salar
British rod caught record: 64 lb 0 oz (29.029 kg), River Tay, Scotland, 1922
Range (Great Britain)
Indigenous, generally widespread and common although scarce in South East England, anadramous.
Habitat
Much of life spent feeding in sea either inshore or as far away as Greenland, and enters rivers to spawn. The rivers chosen are clear and clean and usually fast flowing.
Biology
Breeds October to January. Orange eggs in redds among gravel in running water. After spawning adults return to sea (kelts) although many will die in river, particularly males. Eggs remain in the gravel for some time and most hatch between April and May. Juveniles mature after two to five years. Smolts migrate to sea usually in the spring. Some return to their natal river after one winter feeding at sea (grilse) and others remain feeding at sea for up to 4 years before making their return journey to spawn (multi-sea-winter salmon). Food invertebrates when small, invertebrates and fish when large.
Identification
In the sea both sexes have a bluish green back, silvery sides spotted with black and a white belly. In fresh water the male has a greenish brown back, the sides are brownish or pink with black spots edged with pink or orange, the fins are dark bluish grey or brown and the lower jaw (kype) is often hooked. The female lacks the pink tint and the hooked jaw. Salmon parr are bluish grey with 10 to 13 parr marks with red spots between them between the flanks.
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Atlantic Salmon Trust
The Atlantic Salmon Trust was set up in 1967, at a time when stocks were beginning to start their steady decline and many salmon fishers felt the need for directed practical research into the problems that were becoming apparent
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Anglers' Conservation Association
The official site of the Anglers' Conservation Association known by most British anglers simply as the A-C-A.
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Salmonid 21C
Salmonid 21C is an initiative to develop agreement on how we manage and conserve wild salmon, trout and sea trout stocks in the UK and Ireland in the twenty first century
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Ceredigion's 'Anglers Welcome'
Ceredigion's 'Anglers Welcome' initiative provides anglers with a choice of quality accommodation - all inspected by the Wales Tourist Board and committed to welcoming anglers. Use Anglers Welcome accommodation bases whilst enjoying the whole range of angling offered within Ceredigion, including sea trout fishing on the Teifi, coarse fishing in stillwater fisheries, sea angling trips from Aberystwyth and beachcasting from the environs of beautiful Cardigan Bay beaches
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The Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre
The Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre ensures the exchange of fishery-related information between the whole range of organisations involved in fisheries management in Scotland. The site includes details of the partners, which include the West Coast Fishery Trusts, and direct links.
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Gilbert van Ryckevorsel
Gilbert van Ryckevorsel is a Canadian photographer whose site offers outstanding underwater pictures of salmon.
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Angling News
Angling News provides a wide range of information on angling related matters, including river reports. It provides a news service, and its links include a number of conservation and fishery management addresses.
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The Coomhola Salmon Trust
The Coomhola Salmon Trust An Irish educational trust which has developed an inspirational programme for children and teachers.
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Wildlife Underwater Video
Wildlife Underwater Video Manu Esteve is a Spanish underwater researcher and video cameraman, currently studying in the USA, who has captured some remarkable images of salmon spawning.
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The Salmon Farm Monitor
The Salmon Farm Monitor, which is the website of the Salmon Farm Protest Group, carries outspoken criticisms of sea cage aquaculture.