The salmon
salt salm (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order:Salmoniformes
Family:salmonidae
salmon
Salmon
atlantic salmon
Salmon is an indigenous species andanadromous, it returns to the river where it was born to reproduce, managing to overcome some obstacles during its journey. On the Miño River, its upstream journey ends near the Frieira Dam, where it can enter tributaries such as the Tea and Mouro Rivers.
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Atlantic salmon is classified as acritically endangered speciesdue to pollution, obstacles to migration such as dams and dikes.
Morphology
Body elongated with thin caudal peduncle (fusiform). The jaw normally does not extend beyond the pupil. There may be some dark spots on the operculum. The spines of the first gill arch are stiff, long, and pointed. The teeth are well developed and those at the back of the vomer may fall out. It has 120 to 130 scales along the lateral line. The dorsal fin has 10 to 12 branched rays, exceptionally 9, while the anal fin has 10 to 15 rays and the caudal fin has 19 rays. The spinal column consists of 58 to 61 vertebrae. Young salmon are distinguished by the presence of 10-12 blue-gray dots and a red dot between each. Absence of melanophores in the caudal fin and the adipose fin without a dark edge. The number of scales between the adipose fin and the lateral line varies between 10 and 13.
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They can live up to 13 years, reach a length of 150 cm and a weight of 47 kg, butnowadays the captured specimens do not exceed 14 kg.​ Similar species are sea trout.
biology
Speciesanadromous, benthopelagic and euryhaline.
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Reproduction takes place in winter (November-January), in places with oxygenated waters and pebbly bottoms, at a depth of between 0.5 and 3 meters, in the rivers where they were born._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_The females produce between 500 and 2,000 eggs per kg of weight.
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During the migration for reproduction, while the females maintain their silvery appearance, the males acquire orange spots and fold their jaws. Although some salmon may die after spawning, many return to the sea.
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After birth, the juveniles go through different phases until they go out into the ocean. They can stay from 1 to 5 years in the river where they grow slowly, feeding mainly on small invertebrates, such as shrimp, insect larvae and small fish. In salt water they eat crustaceans and fish, and their growth is very fast.​
Distribution
Its available habitat in the hydrographic basin of the Miño river extends from the mouth to the A Frieira dam.
Conservation
Species indigenous. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to pollution, obstacles to migration such as dams, dams, and dams. Sensitive to changes in water quality.
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-Red Book of Vertebrates of Spain​: (V) Vulnerable
-Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal: (CR) Critically em perigo
Fishing
High commercial importance.
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Its capture in the Miño is rare, it has undergone a slight recovery in recent years, and compared to old accounts, its average length has decreased.
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This species is highly appreciated by fishermen and in the estuary it is fished by hand with tresmallo between March and June, while between Monção and Melgaço, in thepesqueiras, use thebutronand thecabaceira between April and May.
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Throughout the international stretch, sport fishermen can fish with rods and lines between March and June.