This fish of the salmon family is best known for the bright red color of its meat and excellent taste characteristics. The main benefit of sockeye salmon is that it contains antioxidants that can remove harmful toxins from the human body. This in turn normalizes blood sugar levels and improves the functioning of internal organs, including brain. The average length of sockeye salmon is about 80 cm, weight 2-3 kg.

During its life, the fish travels enormous distances, but for spawning it always returns to the lake where it was born. More than 90% of all sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in Asia are produced in the basins of just two rivers - Kamchatka and Ozernaya. The uniqueness of the sockeye salmon herd of the Ozernaya River is determined primarily by the fact that its reproduction is almost entirely concentrated in the basin of Kurilskoye Lake, which has a relatively small water area.

During the spawning period, the color of the fish changes. The scales merge with the skin and become dark red in color, and the head acquires a greenish tint. The transformation is especially noticeable in males. The life cycle of sockeye salmon is from 4 to 6 years, then it spawns and dies.

SOCKEYE SALMON

Pink salmon is a fish of the salmon family; it is the most numerous representative of the genus of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus). The name of the pink salmon fish (humpback salmon) is associated with the hump on its back, which is present by nature, but before spawning it noticeably increases. Fish reach sexual maturity in the second year of life. They return to fresh water as adults at two years of age. All fry (young fishes) hatched from the eggs of pink salmon are females while the fish are in fresh water bodies. Immediately before entering the sea, some of them become males.

Pink salmon is often called Pacific pink salmon. The pink-red meat of this fish is very valuable and healthy; it is a source of a great range of vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, which have a beneficial effect on human health.

It is not surprising that such northern peoples as the Kamchadals, Koryaks, Chukchi or Eskimos, having eaten pink salmon meat for centuries, always remained healthy and were distinguished by amazing endurance, which could shock the inhabitants of countries with a more developed technical civilization.

PINK SALMON

Chum salmon is a dietary product. Thanks to its high protein content, it is very nutritious. In sea water, the fish has a shiny silver color, its body is massive, elongated, its flesh is dense, pink in color with a slight orange tint. By the time it goes to rivers to spawn, a physiological transformation occurs with the fish. The color of the fish changes to yellow-brown with bright purple spots on the sides. The head changes, the jaws stretch, bend, and fangs appear. From this period, the fish stops hunting and feeds on its own fat reserves. The meat becomes lighter.

Depending on the time of spawning, there are two main seasonal forms of chum salmon: summer and autumn. The summer type of chum salmon grows somewhat slower compared to the autumn type of fish, so its size is somewhat larger. The summer variety spawns a month earlier, but the fall variety leaves behind many more eggs. The life cycle of chum salmon is about 7 years.

CHUM SALMON

Coho salmon is a fish of the salmon family; it clearly differs from other salmon fish by the bright
silver color of its scales, which is why it is also called “silver salmon.” Coho salmon is a valuable commercial fish, but its numbers are small. Coho salmon is highly-prized for its tender red meat, which is less colorful than sockeye salmon. Its meat contains many useful and nutritial elements, vitamins and minerals. Individuals of coho salmon, which live in the ocean, have silver sides, a dark blue back, and a hooked nose. Once in fresh water, these representatives of the salmon family change color to bright red on the sides and bluish-green on the back and head. Dark spots appear on the belly and backs of river inhabitants. On average, coho salmon individuals weigh 3-6 kg. The length of an adult fish is about 61 cm.

They are born in fresh water, where they spend a third of their lives, then move to the seas and oceans, where they gain mass, spending the second third of their life time. In the third and the last part, they return to their places of birth to give life to new generations, but die in the process of spawning.
The spawning run of coho salmon into reservoirs begins in mid-August and continues until December, which is much later than other salmon. In this regard, three types of coho salmon are distinguished: autumn, winter and summer coho salmon - depending on the time of spawning.

The duration of the entire life cycle of coho salmon is 3-4 years.

COHO SALMON