The Atlantic Ocean is huge! The journey from Norway to North America is more than 4,000 kilometers long. The average depth is 4000 meters. For us humans, the sea is deadly salty, but not for the wild salmon. It eats itself big there.
Wild salmon are on nutrient migration in the ocean for one to five years before heading back to the river where they were born. The youngest are small, and the oldest weigh more than 25 kilograms. The largest have large mouths and can eat large prey, such as adult herring. The smaller ones have small mouths and eat a lot of fish larvae of capelin and doppice. The fact that there are many prey in the sea is important for salmon. Then both large and small wild salmons can eat what gives them the most energy. In winter, there are fewer prey for the wild salmon in the surface layers. Then the salmon can dive several hundred meters down in search of food.
A small wild salmon in the sea is an attractive prey for many. Many species of fish, seals, whales and birds like to eat wild salmon. That's why it comes down to growing fast and getting too big to be eaten. Large wild salmon do not have many enemies, except for seals and whales.
The wild salmon in the ocean has camouflage. The bright abdomen and bright sides make the salmon difficult to see from below and up towards the bright water surface. Its dark back makes it difficult for fish-eating birds to see the wild goose as it swims across deep and dark seas.
The salmon in the sea experiences both spring, summer, autumn and winter out there. Light varies widely throughout the year, especially in the north. The temperature of the surface water is slightly higher in summer and in southern parts of the North Atlantic. The Gulf Stream from the south brings some of the warm water all the way north to Svalbard. In the far north, icy water flows from the Arctic Ocean. The area where the warm waters of the Gulf Stream meet the cold ice waters, we call it the polar front. There is a lot of food here for the wild salmon.
Down in the ocean depths, the water can be below 0 degrees. Sea water is salty and freezes first at —1.9 degrees. It is then heavier than warmer water and sinks into the dark depths.
Sjøvann er giftig for oss. Drikker vi sjøvann, blir blodet vårt så salt at cellene våre tørker ut. Det fører til at vi sakte, men sikkert dør. I motsetning til oss greier villaksen å kvitte seg med saltet før blodet blir for salt.
Out in the big ocean, the salmon don't have much to orient themselves by. When it starts on its return journey, it uses its inner compass to find its way in towards the coast. The last bit, scientists believe the salmon use their sense of smell to find the right river.
This group is almost there. You can see it's not that deep where they swim. In addition, you can see seaweed, which shows that they are still in the ocean. You may also see some salmon lice on the salmon. When the salmon comes up the river, the salmon lice will die and fall off. Salmon lice do not tolerate fresh water for very long.
Kvåsveien 1500
4588 Kvås - Lyngdal
Org No. 915 380 972
The wild salmon is a part of our history and culture.
.png)
