How Are Salmon Farmed?

Salmon in the wild travel from the ocean to rivers and streams to spawn. Eggs are laid and fertilized in the river, and the young salmon continue to live in the river for up to two years until they are ready to migrate to the ocean. Once in the ocean, the salmon will spend up to 5 years feeding and growing, until they are ready to return to the river to spawn. The life cycle of salmon in the wild is mimicked on salmon farms. The young salmon are grown in freshwater hatcheries before being moved to salt water, following the same pattern of migration as in the wild.