Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are a kind of fish belonging to the salmonidae family. Atlantic salmon are known for their big size and ability to jump up small waterfalls. 

Atlantic salmon play a major role in their ecosystem. They are prey to animals such as sharks, larger fish, seals, and many other animals. In each stage of their life, they play an essential role in keeping other animal populations in check as well as providing food for others. Without Atlantic salmon, the whole ecosystem is thrown off balance, leaving their predators hungry. Because they are an such important part of their ecosystem, Atlantic salmon are what is known as a keystone species.

Throughout their entire lives, Atlantic salmon need good water quality to live. Because of this, they are considered an indicator species. Indicator species are certain species that can only live in specific water conditions, therefore showing the water quality around them. There are indicator species for good and bad water.

Adult salmon migrate to a wide range of places to feed. They can be found around Greenland, Iceland, northern Canada, the coasts of northern Europe, and even as far as Russia. Although their range expands much further, they most commonly are found around the east coast of Canada, Iceland, and Greenland. 

In the image to the left, the darker blue marks the total range where Atlantic salmon can be found. The lighter blue marks where their spawning range is.

Atlantic salmon migrate in spring once they have reached their adult stage. They reach their destination usually by late summer or early fall and spend their first winter around Greenland. They spend 1-3 years here feeding until they are ready to go back and spawn. Salmon are frequently seen returning to the rivers in which they hatched to spawn.

Unlike Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon survive after coming back from spawning in rivers. These salmon will go back to Greenland and beyond to bulk up in hopes of spawning again. 

For many thousands of years, Atlantic salmon have been an essential food source for indigenous people in Maine. Now, with the lack of salmon and their protected status, the tribes have lost access to Atlantic salmon. Losing salmon means losing an important part of their culture.

Throughout time, Atlantic salmon have been held in high regard. In Maine, they have always been integral to the fishing industry. For over 80 years, it was a tradition to present the first salmon caught in the Penobscot River to the President of the United States. This tradition started in 1912 with President William Howard Taft. In 1992 this tradition was stopped due to a lack of fish.