Salmon are an iconic fish species that hold great ecological and economic importance. They are native to the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but have been introduced to many other parts of the world for aquaculture and recreational fishing purposes. This article explores whether salmon are present in Mexico, the southern neighbor of the United States.
The short answer is yes, there are salmon in certain parts of Mexico. However, they are not native to the country. Salmon were introduced to Mexico in the early 20th century and are currently raised in aquaculture facilities mainly for export. There are also some salmon living in the wild after escaping fish farms, but their populations are relatively small.
Salmon Natural Range and Introduction to Mexico
Salmon are native to the northern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. On the Pacific side, their natural range extends from central California up along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. The Atlantic salmon inhabits the northern Atlantic Ocean, originating from rivers that flow into the sea in Europe and eastern North America.
Mexico lies far south of the natural range of salmon. There are no native salmon species in Mexico. However, salmon were introduced into the country for aquaculture purposes in the early 1900s.
The first introductions of salmon to Mexico occurred between 1905 and 1915. Atlantic salmon originating from the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada were brought to the Rio Sordo in the state of Chihuahua. Between 1926 and 1946, more Atlantic salmon from the Miramichi River were introduced to the Santa Barbara and Carmen rivers. These early attempts at establishing Atlantic salmon populations in Mexico were unsuccessful.
More concerted efforts at introducing Pacific salmon began in the late 1940s. Chinook salmon from the Columbia River were brought to the Rio Fuerte in the state of Sinaloa in 1949. Coho salmon were introduced to the same river system in 1950. These Pacific salmon introductions aimed to establish local wild spawning populations that could support a recreational salmon fishery.
The Pacific salmon introductions to the Rio Fuerte proved more successful than the early Atlantic salmon efforts. After several years of stocking, self-sustaining coho and chinook salmon populations became established in the river system. Anglers began catching Pacific salmon in the area in the 1950s, creating a new recreational fishery in the region.
Salmon Farming in Mexico
In addition to introducing salmon to establish wild populations, significant efforts were also made to launch commercial salmon farming in Mexico starting in the late 1980s. Salmon aquaculture began in the states of Chihuahua, Nayarit, and Sinaloa.
Atlantic salmon farming in Mexico relies on stocks imported from other countries. The vast majority of farmed salmon are non-native to Mexico. Chile and Canada have been the main sources of Atlantic salmon eggs used by Mexican salmon farms.
Pacific salmon like coho and chinook are also raised on some Mexican salmon farms, in addition to Atlantic salmon. As of 2022, Mexico had about 44 active salmon farms. Annual farmed salmon production peaked at over 26,000 metric tons in 2014. However, output has declined in more recent years due to disease outbreaks and other factors.
Most salmon farming in Mexico takes place in freshwater ponds and tanks located inland. The farmed fish are grown out for about 18 months before reaching harvest size of 4-5 kg. Mexico’s salmon farms primarily raise fish for export markets like the United States rather than domestic consumption.
Wild Salmon Populations in Mexico
In addition to farmed salmon, there are also some limited wild salmon populations in certain parts of Mexico. As mentioned earlier, self-sustaining populations of chinook and coho salmon became established in the Rio Fuerte system after intentional introductions in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
These Pacific salmon continue to spawn and populate the Rio Fuerte and its tributaries. The wild salmon populations in the river system support a recreational fishery that provides an important source of tourism income for local communities. Anglers catch about 15,000-30,000 Pacific salmon from the Rio Fuerte annually.
There are also some other small wild populations of salmon living in rivers and streams that flow into the northern Gulf of California. These scattered populations originated from accidental escapes from inland salmon farms rather than purposeful introductions. Their populations remain relatively small and localized.
Atlantic salmon have established a very limited wild presence in Mexico after escaping from aquaculture facilities. For example, a few small populations of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon have managed to persist for short periods in some rivers in the state of Chihuahua. But their populations are transient and not self-sustaining. Overall, wild Atlantic salmon are extremely rare in Mexico.
Regulations on Salmon Fishing in Mexico
Recreational fishing for Pacific salmon from the Rio Fuerte is regulated by Mexico’s National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA). Anglers must obtain a sport fishing license from CONAPESCA to catch salmon in the river.
The open salmon fishing season runs from mid-August to the end of November each year. Only barbless hooks may be used. Daily catch limits are in place, ranging from 2 salmon for smaller fish between 700g to 1.8kg up to 5 salmon for fish heavier than 6.8kg.
Atlantic salmon are not targeted by recreational anglers in Mexico. Commercial fishing of wild Atlantic salmon is prohibited in Mexico. Any Atlantic salmon captured must be released back into the water.
Regulations are also in place for salmon aquaculture operations. Mexican law requires salmon farms to obtain sanitary certifications, operate labs to monitor fish health, and comply with requirements related to effluents and waste management. All salmon farms must be registered through CONAPESCA.
Salmon Habitats in Mexico
The salmon living in Mexico mainly inhabit inland freshwater environments. Most wild salmon are found in rivers, streams, and associated lakes and tributaries along the species’ migration route. Hatchery-raised salmon are kept in tanks and ponds on aquaculture facilities before release or harvest.
The Rio Fuerte system provides the most significant wild salmon habitat in Mexico. This river starts in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains then flows west for over 200 miles before emptying into the Gulf of California near Sinaloa. The river has a temperate climate and is fed by seasonal mountain runoff.
Other smaller wild salmon populations live in the network of rivers and streams that empty into the northern part of the Gulf of California. These include habitats around the Yaqui, Mayo, and Fuerte river deltas in the Mexican state of Sonora.
Farmed salmon are kept in freshwater tanks, raceways, and ponds at inland aquaculture facilities, mostly located near agricultural areas. Major farmed salmon production regions include Chihuahua, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. Access to freshwater and mild inland climates allow year-round salmon farming.
There is little salmon habitat in estuaries or the marine waters off Mexico’s Pacific coast. Wild and farmed salmon survival is poor in saltwater due to the region’s high water temperatures. As a result, salmon do not inhabit coastal or marine environments in significant numbers in Mexico.
Threats to Wild Salmon in Mexico
The small populations of wild salmon in Mexico face a number of threats:
– Overfishing – Excessive recreational fishing pressure on some salmon populations like the Rio Fuerte system could deplete numbers.
– Water extraction – Agricultural and urban water use reduces river flows needed by spawning salmon.
– Pollution – Runoff from farms, cities, and aquaculture impacts water quality in rivers.
– Dams – Dams block migration routes and change flow patterns, degrading salmon habitat.
– Climate change – Rising water temperatures and altered river hydrology could reduce breeding success and survival.
– Competition from non-native species – Introduced species like trout and bass may compete with and prey on juvenile salmon.
– Disease – Crowded conditions make farmed salmon more disease-prone. Pathogens can spread from farms to wild fish.
– Escaped farmed salmon – Large numbers of farmed salmon escaping could disturb local wild genetics and ecology.
Stricter fishing limits, habitat protection, pollution controls, fish passage at dams, and reduced competition from hatchery salmon may help safeguard wild Mexican salmon populations. But their long-term future remains uncertain.
Benefits of Salmon in Mexico
Despite facing an uncertain future, the presence of salmon in Mexico provides some ecological, economic, and cultural benefits:
– Recreational fishing opportunities – The Rio Fuerte salmon fishery generates tourism revenue and jobs for local communities.
– Aquaculture exports – Salmon farming produces locally-raised fish for export markets, provides employment for workers.
– Nutrient cycling – As predators, salmon help transport nutrients from ocean to inland watersheds. Their decomposing carcasses fertilize streams.
– Riparian habitat – Digging salmon create riverbank depressions that serve as habitat for other species.
– Tourism revenue – Anglers drawn to salmon fishing areas spend money on lodging, food, equipment rentals.
– Subsistence food source – Some indigenous communities along salmon streams depend on wild salmon as a food source.
– Cultural importance – Salmon hold special cultural meaning for some native groups along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
– Commercial fishing opportunities – If populations rebound, commercial salmon fishing could theoretically develop.
Overall, the presence of salmon populations in certain areas of Mexico provides ecological advantages and some economic opportunities. Protecting the remaining wild salmon is important for maintaining these benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are indeed some salmon living in Mexico, but they are not native to the country. Pacific salmon like coho and chinook were intentionally introduced in the mid-20th century and have established wild spawning populations in a few river systems, most notably the Rio Fuerte. Atlantic salmon are extensively farmed in inland freshwater tanks and ponds mainly for export. Small numbers of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon persist in the wild temporarily. While salmon farming generates export revenue, wild Mexican salmon face numerous threats. More environmental protections may be needed to prevent further declines of these non-native but ecologically and economically important fish. With proactive management, salmon will hopefully continue sustaining fisheries and playing a role in Mexican aquatic ecosystems into the future.