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Salmon, Pink

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
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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.

 

 

 

Salmon, Pink

Pink salmon of humpback salmon is one of the five salmon species that can be found in the northern Pacific Ocean and its adjacent rivers. The distribution range of the pink salmon extends from Canada to California in the east and from Siberia to Korea in the west. The pink salmon gets on average 50 cm long and weighs 2-3 kg. Most salmon species are anadromous: they are born in fresh water (rivers) and migrate to sea where they spend most of their life. After 2 years they migrate back upstream to their birth grounds, a phenomenon called natal homing. This sometimes requires the salmon to swim for thousands of kilometres upstream. When the salmon return to their natal grounds, their appearance changes; they get a red colour with a green head and males develop elongated, crooked jaws and a bump on their back. Salmon only reproduce once in their lifetime, they die shortly after reproduction. Salmon are keystone species in the ecosystem and are a very important food source for birds, bears, otters and other wildlife.

Salmon, Pink

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-east and north-west (FAO 61|67)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines, Pots and traps, Handlines and pole-lines (hand operated), Driftnets, Gillnets

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Explanation assessment

Several fisheries on pink salmon have been MSC-certifiedMSC Certified:
Fisheries that comply with the Marine Stewardship Council assessment criteria and are certified. Fish products with the blue MSC label are caught by sustainable fisheries.
; in Alaska, Canada and Russia. These use many different catching methods, including the ‘fish wheel’ which is a watermill like structure with nets attached to it that catch fish from the stream, after which they are collected in a tank. The Pacific salmon fishery is well regulated and the methods do little damage to the environment.

 

Salmon, Pink

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-east (FAO 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Fykes

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The pink salmon stock in this area is healthy. The stock is currently not under pressure due to a low fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
.

[Fyke]s generally have little negative effects on vulnerable species. However, the Taimen salmon is an exception. The size of the negative impact on this endangered salmon species is unclear, but some negative impact is expected.

The managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
is largely effective.

 

Salmon, Pink

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-east (FAO 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines, Hooks and lines, Gillnets

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Salmon, Pink

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Origin

Pacific Ocean, north-east (FAO 67)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines, Fykes, Driftnets

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
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  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Most pink salmon stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
s are healthy. However, the stocks have been assessed with great uncertainties. Most stocks seem to be fully fished or stock size is unknown.

By fishing with driftDrift nets:
Gill nets that float on the sea current (with or without boat). Fish get stuck in the nets with their gills. Drift nets are prohibited in European waters. 
nets and purse-seinesPurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'. 
, vulnerable sea birds, whales and dolphins can get entangled in the nets. It is estimated that the sea floor is not disturbed by these pelagicPelagic:
In the water column.
fishing methods. The impact of these methods on the ecosystem is still unclear. Fishing with [fyke]s does not seem to have a large impact on the ecosystem and protected and/or endangered species. It is further estimated that [by-catch] is low.

The managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of pink salmon in this area is only partly effective.

 

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.