This is not a type of fish, but a variety of fish from the salmon family! Come and see the most complete map of Chinese salmon

This winter, Harbin suddenly became popular and was affectionately called "Erbin" by everyone. The Hezhe people, a minority ethnic group originating from the Tungus, also came into everyone's attention at this time.

The Hezhe people are a fishing and hunting people who worship fish as a totem and have developed a strong fish culture. They have a well-known proverb: "Wuhua Mountain, Bailu Water, salmon return home", which records the beautiful scene of salmon migration.

The "Salmon" mentioned here is the protagonist of our article today - a type of salmon . In the Northeast region, Pacific salmon are called salmon. The name comes from the Hezhe language "dao i maha", which means fish that come back regularly.

Salmon is the common name for many species of fish in the salmon family. Salmon live in high-latitude oceans or cold rivers at high altitudes . They are typical migratory fish, with young salmon swimming to the sea in spring and adult salmon returning to rivers to spawn in autumn. Some salmon are landlocked species. Decades ago, Atlantic salmon were introduced to Guangdong via Hong Kong. The English word salmon is pronounced "Sanwen" in Cantonese, and the name then spread throughout the country. Therefore, salmon originally referred only to Atlantic salmon, but now includes many salmon species such as Pacific salmon and trout. Broadly speaking, although there are farmed salmon and wild salmon on the market, they live in different waters and have different appearances and meat colors. Today, most imported salmon comes from Norway and Chile. With the explosive growth of the market and the shortage of supply, many other salmon and trout are also classified as salmon and sold in different subcategories. Therefore, in the Chinese market, the term salmon is more of a commercial concept than a strictly scientific concept.

Original wild salmon species in China

There are about 14 species of salmonids in China, accounting for more than 20% of the world's salmonids, including Mashu salmon (including landlocked salmon), humpback salmon, Chum salmon, Korean taimen, Siberian taimen, Sichuan taimen, Lenok, Mountain trout, Dolly Varden, Inconnu, Amur whitefish, Khadary whitefish, as well as rainbow trout and grayling, among which rainbow trout has the largest release volume.

0 1 Pacific salmon in the Northeast

Three species of Pacific salmon are found in rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean in northeastern China, namely, Maso salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), and dog salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The historical spawning grounds of these Pacific salmon in China include the Heilongjiang, Wusuli, Suifenhe, Songhua, Mudan, and Tumen rivers, of which the anadromous populations of the Songhua and Mudan rivers have not been seen for many years.

The largest number of Masu salmon is found in the Wusuli River in Heilongjiang. It can also be found in the Tumen River, Hunchun River, Mijiang River, Suifen River and Nenjiang River. There is also an inland subspecies in the Dajia River in Taiwan, called the cherry landlocked salmon. In 1976, a small number of individuals were also found in the Yellow Sea. The Pacific salmon that migrate to Fuyuan County in autumn start from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, pass through the Heilongjiang River in Russia, and migrate to China from early to mid-September to late October every year.

In Fuyuan County, salmon are divided into Heilongjiang salmon and Wusuli salmon according to the region. There are spawning grounds for Pacific salmon in the nature reserves of Heilongjiang, Wusuli and Songhua rivers. However, overfishing in Fuyuan County over the years has led to a decline in the number of these salmon. In addition, the Pacific salmon in Fuyuan County have become smaller and mature at a younger age.

In recent years, the Pacific salmon population in China has shown a clear downward trend, mainly due to overfishing, dam projects and river pollution . According to literature records, the average catch of Pacific salmon in Northeast China in history was: 306,000 from 1947 to 1949; 372,000 from 1950 to 1969; 188,000 from 1970 to 1979; 214,000 from 1980 to 1989; and 45,000 from 1990 to 1999. From 2000 to 2004, the average catch was only 19,000.

The salmon resources in the Tumen River were once very rich, but later due to the deterioration of the fishery ecosystem, river pollution and uncontrolled overfishing, the fish resources collapsed and the salmon production dropped to one-tenth of the original. In 2004, the results of a study on the structural characteristics of the breeding population of Ussuri River salmon showed that the length and weight of the individuals in this population were significantly smaller than in the past. Currently, this population is on the verge of extinction and urgently needs protection.

02 Sichuan-Shaanxi Tailings

The Sichuan-Shaanxi Tailor Salmon (Hucho bleekeri) is a species endemic to the Yangtze River Basin in China. It is distributed in the upper tributaries of the Yangtze River in Sichuan Province, the middle and upper reaches of the Dadu River in Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces, and the upper reaches and tributaries of the Han River south of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province.

It lives mainly in fast-flowing streams with sandy and gravelly bottoms. Due to habitat loss and illegal fishing, this special fish population is seriously threatened and is listed as "critically endangered" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

03Salmon​

The species and subspecies of Brachymystax genus are still undetermined in science. It was discovered in 1930 and named Tumenjiang Brachymystax tumensis. In 1966, Li Sizhong named Qinling Brachymystax tsinlingensis after the Qinling subspecies of Brachymystax tsinlingensis. However, this Brachymystax was discovered by people in ancient China and was caught as tribute fish to the royal family.

It is mainly distributed in the upper reaches of the Weihe River and its tributaries on both sides of the Qinling Mountains, and in the streams of the upper reaches of the Weihe River and the Ziwu River, tributaries of the Hanshui River on the north side. Qinling Slimy Salmon, like Sichuan-Shaanxi Tailer, is a typical cold-water fish remaining from the Quaternary glacial landlocked area. Currently, there are nature reserves for protecting Qinling Slimy Salmon in Shaanxi Province and Gansu Province.

04 Xinjiang salmon

The northern salmon (Stenodus leucichthys) is mainly distributed in the lower reaches of the main stream of the Irtysh River in Xinjiang in China. It is distributed in the Irtysh River and Burqin River in Xinjiang. Due to overfishing in the early 1960s, the production of this fish gradually decreased. In the 1980s, it was extremely rare and almost on the verge of extinction.

There are two reasons for this situation: first, the Irtysh River has been in a dry year in recent years, with little water, especially in the autumn when spawning; second, Kazakh agricultural irrigation has opened a water diversion canal in the middle and lower reaches of the Irtysh River, resulting in a reduction in the water source flowing into the Ob River (i.e. the Irtysh River), making it impossible for fish to swim upstream to spawn.

05Scarlet char

Salvelinus malma Walbaum is a fish of the genus Salmonidae. It can be divided into landlocked and migratory types. In China, it is landlocked. It lives in the cool waters of the main streams and tributaries of rivers for its entire life. From September to October every year, when the water temperature is about 8 degrees Celsius, it lays eggs in the slow flow with gravel bottom and 30 to 60 cm depth. It is distributed in the upper tributaries of the Yalu River, Tumen River and Suifen River system. It is a small and medium-sized cold-water rare fish that inhabits mountain streams.

06 Ishikawa Taira

Hucho ishikawae is only found in the upper reaches of the Yalu River and its mountain streams in China. It is a species endemic to Jilin Province.

As the local industry, agriculture, and fisheries have developed significantly, salmonids account for 80% of the catch. As the population increases, water conservancy projects are built, sewage is discharged, and fishing gear is updated, the Ishikawa Taira salmon has been hit hard.

From 1980 to 1984, a large-scale fish survey in Jilin Province collected only 14 Ishikawa Taimen. From 1994 to 1997, only two Ishikawa Taimen were collected from the upper tributaries of the Yalu River. Since then, there has been no record of Ishikawa Taimen in China, and it is possible that it has become extinct in China. Although some scholars proposed artificial breeding and the establishment of a breeding and release station in the 1990s, and the Jilin Yalu River Upper Reaches National Nature Reserve for the protection of this type of cold-water fish was subsequently built, it was too late.

07Sakura Landlocked Salmon

The Formosan salmon, also known as the Formosan salmon, is the southernmost subspecies of the Masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou). The Formosan salmon is one of the rarest fish in the world and is on the brink of extinction. It was once a food source for the indigenous people of Taiwan, but overfishing and dams have reduced its numbers to only 200 left by 1992, according to official statistics.

Now, its native habitat is protected, and through effective conservation efforts, the fish population has recovered to 12,587 in 2020. In March 2023, the Shei-Pa National Park Management Office counted 15,374 Cherry Landlocked Salmon, once again setting a new record since restoration in 1995.

Salmon farming and introduction of exotic species in China

China's salmon farms are distributed in Northeast China, Xinjiang, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau . Salmon farming is also carried out in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea .

In addition, on Gaotang Island in Xiangshan County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, a Danish company invested in and built a land-based salmon recirculating water system Atlantic salmon breeding base, which is the first foreign-funded salmon farm in China.

1. Northeast China

Taimen lives in China and other Northeast Asian countries. It is also called "Siberian tiger in the water" and is a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List. It is distributed in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. In China, it is distributed in the upper reaches of Heilongjiang River and Nenjiang River, Mudanjiang River, Wusuri River, Songhua River, Jingbo Lake and Irtysh River. In 2005, the Bohai Cold Water Fish Experiment Station of Heilongjiang Fisheries Research Institute successfully carried out artificial breeding and obtained artificial domesticated fry. In 2003, Shankou Reservoir in Wudalianchi City, Heilongjiang Province, introduced 425,000 fry of Coregonus peled from Russia from Sailimu Lake in Xinjiang, and introduced fry from Sailimu Lake again in 2006.

2. Xinjiang

Northern salmon are distributed in the lower reaches of the Irtysh River in Xinjiang, but this fish species has not been farmed in Xinjiang so far.

Since the 1970s, the Ili River Basin has a history of more than 40 years of rainbow trout farming. Nileke County, Ili, Xinjiang, is located in the upper reaches of the Ili River and has three large and medium-sized reservoirs. The water temperature in the reservoir area is maintained at 8-13 degrees Celsius all year round, and the water quality is clear, which is suitable for the growth and reproduction of cold-water fish and large-scale farming. At the beginning of 2014, a salmon farming base was built in the Tianshan glacier water area at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters in Nileke County, starting salmon farming on large inland waters in Xinjiang.

In 1998, Russian whitefish and autumn whitefish (Coregonus autumnalis) were first introduced to Xinjiang's Sayram Lake, and have now adapted to the local living environment.

3. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

China Central Television Finance reported that one-third of the salmon on the domestic Chinese market comes from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is produced in Longyangxia, Gonghe County, Qinghai Province, in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. This is where China's highest-altitude and largest salmon farm is located.

Qinghai Province: In 2003, Qinghai Province introduced white salmon and other fish species from Russia and multiplied them in Longyangxia, Heiquan, Nanmenxia and other waters. Qinghai Province actively guided the people in the Yellow River Basin to carry out cage farming in Longyangxia, Lijiaxia, Gongboxia and other reservoirs. Qinghai Province became the largest white salmon producing area in China for the first time. At the same time, Qinghai vigorously carried out white salmon seedling breeding, established three white salmon seedling bases and a breeding base in Datong, Nanmenxia and other places, and supplied nearly 5 million white salmon seedlings to Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and other places.

Tibet Autonomous Region: The Parimaqu River is located in Yadong County, Shigatse, Tibet, at the southern foot of the middle section of the Himalayas. It is home to the Yadong salmon. It is now a second-class protected animal in Tibet. In the second half of the 19th century, the British introduced it from Europe to the southern foot of the Himalayas. It was first introduced to northern India and then to the Yadong region of Tibet.

Yadong salmon is one of the three treasures of Shigatse. The salmon breeding base in Yadong County Ecological Industrial Park has invested 242.17 million yuan, including breeding ponds, hatching and seedling workshops, and ecological cycle healthy breeding areas. Under the guidance of the local government, farmers and herdsmen began to try to breed Yadong salmon.

4. Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

There is a salmon breeding base in Hongkou Scenic Area, Longchi Town, Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province. The salmon breeding base is built in the upper reaches of Baisha River. Relying on the snowmelt water resources of Hongkou alpine mountains, the base breeds golden trout, rainbow trout, Tibetan salmon, Arctic char and other fish.

A salmon breeding base has been built in the Ant River of Songhe Village, Dashan Township, Dafang County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. By digging canals and diverting water from karst caves, a flowing water breeding habitat has been formed. Some of the salmon eggs come from Spain, and salmon, rainbow trout and other species are farmed.

5. Salmon farming in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea

Since the 1970s, Chinese fishery experts have tried to farm Atlantic salmon in northern open waters such as Qingdao, Dalian and Yantai, but all attempts have ended in failure.

Since May 2015, a scientific research team composed of experts from Ocean University of China and other institutions has cooperated with the company to conduct cold-water salmon farming experiments in the cold water area of ​​the Yellow Sea. In 2017, a large-scale farming cage equipment named "Deep Blue No. 1" was completed and launched, mainly farming rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. "Deep-sea fish farming" also faces many uncontrollable factors. During the farming process, the cages of "Deep Blue No. 1" were broken due to seawater corrosion, causing most of the salmon to escape. At present, "Deep Blue No. 2" has also been put into use.

Another company engaged in rainbow trout farming in the Yellow Sea is the Heilongjiang Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences. The institute implemented the rainbow trout "Shui Ke No. 1" project in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. The project provided more than 900,000 fry and adult fish to the Ning'an City Rainbow Trout Zuanxin Lake Seed Base for sea salinization experiments. Since 2020, the Heilongjiang Fisheries Research Institute has adjusted the water environment so that various organs and functions in rainbow trout gradually adapt from freshwater environment to seawater environment. Use deep-sea cold water masses to expand the breeding area and realize the land-sea relay breeding model of rainbow trout. It has used more than 900,000 rainbow trout fry and adult fish of different sizes weighing 10 grams, 50 grams to 3 catties in its experimental bases in Ning'an, Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, Dalian, Yantai in the Yellow Sea region, and Dongying in the Bohai Sea.

Protection suggestions and countermeasures

In the context of the booming global aquaculture industry, salmon farming is one of the important industries. Its rapid growth is accompanied by a series of environmental and ethical challenges that need to be addressed. Environmental pollution and animal welfare issues are particularly prominent in salmon farms , which not only threaten the balance of the ecosystem, but also pose potential risks to human health and species diversity. At the same time, the sharp decline of wild salmon populations, especially the endangered status of many species in East Asia, has sounded the urgent alarm for species protection.

1. Pollution problems in salmon farming are more prominent

Salmon farms allow fish waste and food scraps to fall directly into the water, accumulating excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the surrounding waters, which can damage aquatic ecosystems and native flora and fauna. In addition, the overuse of chemicals such as antibiotics, antifouling agents and pesticides in salmon farming can have adverse consequences for aquatic life and human health.

2. Animal welfare issues in salmon farming cannot be ignored

Salmon on fish farms are kept in small spaces, with very limited space for each individual salmon to move around. Overcrowded fish are more susceptible to illness and suffer more stress, aggression and physical injuries (such as fin damage). In addition to lack of space, overcrowding leads to poor water quality, which reduces the oxygen available for fish to breathe. Salmon are migratory fish that migrate long distances in nature, and the conditions of intensive salmon farming cannot possibly meet the basic needs of salmon.

3. Wild salmon conservation should be given attention

Wild salmon populations in East Asia are facing an endangered situation. Countries and regions can exchange conservation experiences and promote mutual learning and cooperation. For example, the lessons learned from the conservation of Taiwan's landlocked salmon can be learned. At the same time, salmon research institutions and conservation areas in Northeast Asia can promote the protection of wild salmon species resources in East Asia through mutual visits and exchanges and international conferences. In addition, dialogue and exchange mechanisms can be established between China and North American salmon conservation agencies.