Atlantic salmon is mostly farmed, with only a small endangered population of Atlantic salmon remaining in the wild. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-42 Viable Salmonid Populations and the Recovery of Evolutionarily Significant Units Paul McElhany, Mary H. Rucklelshaus, Michael J. Ford, Thomas C. The farming processes ensures that salmon is available year round and not subject to seasonality, which makes it available and relatively inexpensive, but the downside to this method is that the salmon is fed on manufactured food which, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, has … Only farm-raised Atlantic salmon are found in U.S. seafood markets. The heaviest Atlantic Salmon ever recorded weighed 100 lb (45 kg)! Atlantic salmon, also known as the “King of Fish,” are anadromous, which means they can live in both fresh and saltwater. In addition, the Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Threats. The population of salmon species in the Northwest, from Alaska to Washington State, in the waters of the Pacific and in the North Atlantic Oceans is constantly declining. Stability of population structure and genetic diversity across generations assessed by microsatellites among sympatric populations of landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Populations are determined by genetic analysis and wild Atlantic salmon from different regions demonstrate unique life histories and characteristics. The number of adult Atlantic salmon returning to the Miramichi River has reached an "all-time low," according to a news release from the Miramichi Salmon Association. Temporally stable genetic structure and low migration in an Atlantic salmon population complex: implications for conservation and management AbstractThe evolutionary potential of a population is closely related to two key population genetic parameters, namely the effective population size (Ne) and migration rate (m). Despite relatively stable trends, population sizes for salmon of Inner St. Lawrence rivers are relatively low. They then migrate to saltwater to feed, grow, and mature before returning to freshwater to spawn. Atlantic salmon populations have declined in number throughout much of their global range, as well as in Canada, and self-sustaining populations are no longer found west of Montréal. They are carnivorous and are the largest species within the genus Salmo. Several major reviews have attempted to identify and prioritize the causes of this situation. In the Baltic Sea, differences in distribution have been observed among and within Finnish Atlantic salmon populations, based on tagged salmon recaptures and stable‐isotope analyses (Kallio‐Nyberg et al., 1999, Kallio‐Nyberg & Ikonen, 1992, Torniainen et al., 2013). NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-42 Viable Salmonid Populations and the Recovery of Evolutionarily Significant Units Paul McElhany, Mary H. Rucklelshaus, Michael J. Ford, Thomas C. IBoF Salmon typically spawn in their natal rivers during October and November. State of Populations. In addition, the Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon are protected under the Endangered Species Act.Learn more about protected Atlantic salmon. Salmon is a popular food in the United States, and is classified as an oily fish, recommended for a healthy diet. Atlantic salmon are incredible fish that migrate thousands of miles during their lifetime.