Identification
The pink salmon is the smallest Pacific salmon, typically 40 to 60 cm and 1.5 to 3 kg. Silvery in the sea with a blue-green back and large, oval black spots on the back and tail fin. During spawning migration, males develop a spectacular hump behind the head, a hooked jaw, and change color to dark brown-green.
Ecology
Has a strict two-year life cycle: born in rivers, growing in the ocean, returning after two years to freshwater to spawn and die. Feeds eagerly at sea on plankton, small fish, and krill. The most abundant Pacific salmon species.
In the Netherlands
Pink salmon is appearing increasingly in European rivers, including Norwegian and potentially Dutch. Originally stocked in northern Russia, the species is expanding. Concerns exist about competition with native Atlantic salmon.
