Fun Fact Friday: 5 Interesting Things You Didn’t Know about Wild Salmon

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It’s salmon season, folks!

At Chamberlain’s Steak & Chop House, we pride ourselves on offering the freshest, most delicious meats and seafood sourced from the best regions. This time of year, it’s Alaskan Salmon. So in honor of this incredible fish, we thought we’d share 5 interesting things about salmon in that region you may not know:

1.     Wild Pacific Salmon Feeds Over 100 Species

Who would have thought? It’s crazy. When exploring the ecosystems along the West Coast, researchers have found that the impact of the salmon far surpasses that of just the animals that eat it in the ocean. Sure, killer whales in the region – and humans – both rely heavily on salmon as a key part of their diet. But researchers have also found decaying fish remains miles and miles from the shoreline. The thought is that animals have consumed salmon, left the remains deep in the forest, and this then acts as up to 50% of the nitrogen for the soil throughout the region! 

2.     Salmon are Anadromous

“Anadromous” means that salmon spend their lives both in the freshwater rivers and lakes of Alaska and the Pacific ocean. Salmon are spawned in the freshwater, and as they grow to maturity, they spend time out in the ocean. When it’s time for them to perform their final act of reproduction, they travel back to the freshwater areas they were born. It’s miraculous and rare for species to live in both places. At our seafood grill near me, we find this remarkable. 

3.     Wild Salmon has a Keen Sense of Smell

So exactly how are these salmon able to find their way back to their original spawning grounds? Many scientists believe it is due to their sense of smell. Their keen sense of smell means they can smell even one drop of scent in an area as big as 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools!

4.     Not All Wild Salmon is the Same Species

Wild salmon are not all created equal. In fact, the Pacific region of the United States and Canada is home to 6 different species of salmon. Examples include the Atlantic salmon, Sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, Chum salmon, Coho salmon, and the Pink salmon. Some researchers also classify the Steelhead as yet another salmon species, previously thought to be closer to a trout in nature.

5.     Salmon Can Change Color

As salmon mature, they change colors. For example, at birth, sockeye salmon are small, spotted fish with a light-colored sheen. When they grow to adulthood, they take on a light, silvery color. When it’s time to spawn, they begin to change to the coppery red color they are known for with bright green heads. At our seafood grill near me, we have Alaskan salmon.

Chamberlain’s Has Fresh Pacific Salmon!

It’s salmon season and Chamberlain’s Steak & Chop House – a great seafood grill near me – has what you crave. Come see us this week for an impeccable meal.