Five More Amazing Facts About Salmon
6. Salmon are considered keystone species
This means they have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to how many of them there are. If a keystone species were to disappear, their ecosystems would change significantly. Rotting salmon carcasses transfer valuable nutrients from the ocean to the land. Scientists have traced nutrients from salmon bodies and found them in mosses, herbs, shrubs, trees, insects, song birds, bears and wolves!
7. Salmon have huge cultural significance
For example, in the Pacific Northwest, salmon have been a significant part of the First Nation economies, religions, and cultures of the region for millennia. Historically and today, salmon have been a primary food source for Columbia River Basin First Nations, and are a significant part of their cultural and spiritual identity.
8. Salmon are facing a lot of threats
Salmon populations in Canada are threatened by parasites, disease, overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss. WWF-Canada is working in some key salmon habitats to try and reduce threats to these iconic and important species.
9. Salmon are a part of our Canadian heritage
Anyone who travels knows that Canadians are known for our smoked salmon. Pacific salmon were critical to the early development of British Columbia’s economy. The commercial and recreational fisheries continue to play a role in coastal communities. It’s no wonder salmon are the official provincial fish of British Columbia!
10. Salmon are named after their runs
Many believe that the word “salmon” comes from the Latin word salmo or salire, which means “to leap”. If you’ve ever seen salmon battling rapids and strong currents as they head upriver to spawn, then you know they are aptly named.
