Atlantic Salmon: A Symbol of Wild America
Endangered Atlantic salmon. (Joseph Tomelleri)
“When it comes to fish, nothing symbolizes wild America like sea-run, or anadromous, salmon and trout. Born in freshwater, these fish spend several years at sea before returning to their natal streams to replenish their ranks. They travel upwards of 100 miles inland from the ocean, navigating large rivers and waterfalls, and pushing up streams that seem far too small for fish their size. Some die after spawning, some winter over in lakes, and some drop back to sea to repeat the cycle of life.”
NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard was honored to write a piece for the Rewilding Institute REWILDINGEARTH blog.
Founded by conservation icon Dave Foreman, Rewilding Institute works to develop and promote ideas and strategies to advance continental-scale conservation in North America and beyond. They focus on large carnivores and the need to connect their habitats.
Bob chimed in on Atlantic salmon, their status, the need to do more than we are currently doing, and how a National Fish designation, a position supported by Rewilding Institute, would draw attention to their plight and direct resources to making sure they don’t go away…
Special thanks to our friends at Rewilding Institute for pushing the envelope and promoting real and modern science-based conservation in a pragmatic manner the resource as well as everyone else working to save and restore our native species and natural world.
“While striped bass and other fish are worthy of consideration, like the bald eagle and North American bison, one species of fish stands above all others in regard to majesty, power, strength, and endurance: the Atlantic salmon. As the sea-run life history strategy stands above all other lifeforms of fish, no species stands out among its anadromous peers like Atlantic salmon.”
