France country information

Common names: Saumon, Saumon Atlantique, Saumon atlantique
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref: FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Service, 1993
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Known from the Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne basin (Ref. 51442). Originally, the Atlantic salmon frequented the rivers on the Atlantic coast, in Manche and on the North Sea coast; its area of distribution has regressed somewhat compared to what it was in the middle of the 18th century. It has completely disappeared from certain basins: Rhine, Moselle, Meuse, Somme, Seine, Rance, tributaries of the middle Loire, upper Loire, tributaries of the Garonne and the Dordogne. The construction of dams for navigational purposes, for hydroelectric production, for water suppy of the cities and the nuclear power stations block the fishes' access to the spawning grounds. The absence of dams on the coastal rivers of Brittany explains why this area has the best preserved rivers for salmon, more so because the spawning grounds are often close to the estuary. The general degradation of the environment, brought about by man's activities, affects the remaining spawning grounds. Stocks are heavily exploited where commercial fishing is significant. Protected in the Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne basin (Ref. 51442). This species is included in Annex III of the Bern Convention and Annex II and V of the Directive Habitats Faune-Flore (Ref. 11941). Also Refs. 173, 2163, 30578, 40476. Status of threat: Vulnerable (Ref. 74334).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Keith, P. and J. Allardi (coords.), 2001
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Salmoniformes (Salmons) > Salmonidae (Salmonids) > Salmoninae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

大西洋鲑, Лосось атлантический (=семга), Saumon de l'Atlantique, ... more

Main reference

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. (Ref. 5723)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); 120.0 cm TL (female); common length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3561); max. published weight: 46.8 kg (Ref. 41037); max. reported age: 13 years (Ref. 274)

Length at first maturity
L_m 73.1 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 92381); depth range 0 - 210 m (Ref. 57178), usually 10 - 23 m

Climate / Range

Temperate; 2°C - 9°C (Ref. 36794), preferred 10°C (Ref. 107945); 72°N - 37°N, 77°W - 61°E (Ref. 54253)

Distribution

North Atlantic Ocean: temperate and arctic zones in northern hemisphere (Ref. 51442). In the western Atlantic, it ranges from western Greenland and the coastal drainages of Quebec, Canada, to Connecticut, USA (Ref. 5723). Landlocked stocks are present in North America (Ref. 1998). In the eastern Atlantic, it ranges from the White and Barents Sea basins through northeastern Europe to the Baltic and North Sea basins, including Iceland (Ref. 59043). Introduced to New Zealand, Chile, southern Argentina (Ref. 59043) and Australia (Ref. 6390). Listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention (2002) (freshwater only). Listed in Annex II (freshwater only; excluding Finnish population) and V (freshwater only) of the EC Habitats Directive (2007).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-15; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 7 - 11; Vertebrae: 58 - 61. Distinguished from congeners by having the following unique characters: 10-13 scales between end of adipose base and lateral line; 17-24 gill rakers (Ref. 59043); caudal fin deeply forked in individuals smaller than 20 cm SL; hyaline or grey adipose margin; posterior part of vomer toothless (Ref. 59043). Mouth extends only to area below rear of eye and has well developed teeth (Ref. 51442). Vomerine teeth weak (Ref. 7251). Caudal fin with 19 rays (Ref. 2196). Little scales (Ref. 51442). Juveniles have 8-12 blue-violet spots on the flanks with little red spots in-between (Ref. 51442). Adults at sea are bluish-green dorsally becoming silvery along the sides and white ventrally; with a few black spots but none under lateral line (Ref. 37032, Ref. 51442). Caudal fin usually unspotted and adipose fin not black bordered. During reproduction individuals lose the silvery shine and become dull brown or yellowish. Males may be mottled with red or have large black patches (Refs. 37032, 51442, 88171). Skin becomes thick and leathery. Survivors lose their spawning coloration and are generally dark in colour (Ref. 84357). During the spawning season, males are characterized by elongated hooked jaws that meet at the tips, thicker fins, and slime covering their body. Hook of males dwindle after spawning (Ref. 35388).

Amphihaline species, spending most of its life in freshwater (Ref. 51442). Some landlocked populations exist. Found in all rivers where temperature rises above 10° C for about 3 months per year and does not exceed 20° C for more than a few weeks in summer (Ref. 59043) (preferred temperatures 4-12°C). Juveniles may live in cold lakes in northern Europe (Ref. 59043). Parr (i.e. juveniles) are territorial and are found in the upper reaches of rivers and streams, in riffle areas with strong current and rough gravel bottoms (Ref. 7471). During winter, parr seek refuge in small spaces or under stones during the day (Refs. 59043, 89461). Young remain in freshwater for 1 to 6 years, then migrate to coastal marine waters or even to open oceans where they remain for 1 to 4 years before returning to freshwater for spawning (Ref. 51442). Adults inhabit cooler waters with strong to moderate flow (Ref. 44894). The Atlantic salmon is reported to live up to 10 years, but most individuals only reach 4-6 years (Ref. 88187). Juveniles feed mainly on aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans and fish; adults at sea feed on squids, shrimps, and fish (Ref. 51442). Most populations depend mostly or exclusively on stocking due to degradations of environmental conditions. Fishing pressure on wild stocks has decreased due to intensive farming but other problems have increased. Farmed salmons escape in large numbers and move to any river and hybridize with wild stocks (Ref. 59043). This species may hybridize with trout (Salmo trutta) (Ref. 59043). Diseases of the species include furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida), corynebacterial kidney disease (Renibacterium salmoninarum), enteric red mouth disease (Yersinia ruckeri), infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, bacterial kidney disease, fin rot and fungus infections (Ref. 5951). Marketed fresh, dried or salted, smoked, and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, cooked in microwave, and baked (Ref. 9988).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Lower Risk: least concern (LR/lc)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

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Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.5 ±0.3 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.1-0.2; tmax=6; Fecundity=1,600)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High vulnerability (62 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high

Salmo salar Linnaeus, 1758