Brown Trout

General

Salmonids

There are many species that belong to the Salmonids or (Protacanthopterygii). Did you know trouts, smelts, and even pikes belong to the Salmon family? Salmonids occur in either salt and freshwater. Most species are well-specialized predators and live in temperate climate zones.  Salmonids are ray-finned fishes and can be distinguished by the ‘fat-fin’ between the backfin and tail. They do not have spikes and the pelvic and pectoral fin are separated.

Salmonids are sold farmed and wildcaught. Wildcaught salmon comes from the Pacific. Almost all Atlantic salmon on sold is farmed. Since the 90s the farming of salmon increased dramatically. Norway, chile, Scotland, Canada and the Faroe islands are important farming countries for salmon. In both, wild-caught and farmed salmon problems in sustainability are prevalent.

Brown Trout

There are three forms of brown trout.  The riverine (fario), lacustrine (lacustris, lake trout) and the anadromous form (trutta, sea trout). The native range of brown trout extends from northern Norway and White Sea tributaries in Russia in the Arctic Ocean to the Atlas Mountains in North Africa, and is introduced worldwide in suitable habitats. The average length is 70 cm, but they can reach up to 1.6 m and weigh up to 50 kg.

The anadromous (sea trout) form has strong similarities with Atlantic salmon. They are born in fresh water rivers and lakes and after 1-5 years they migrate to salt water. After 0.5-5 years, the mature trout return to their spawning grounds in rivers and lakes, just like salmon.

The lacustrine and riverine forms are purely freshwater species.