Pink Salmon

The Pink Salmon, also known as the Colombian Salmon in Europe, and previously known as the Amazonian Catfish but rebranded for publicity, is a species native to the Southern Caribbean and Eastern American coast. The species is known specially in Colombia and some european countries for its relatively cheap but delicious caviar, as well as its white meat, which resermbles the flavor of salmon meat.

Credits: Top Image: Channel catfish as pictured by the US Engineer corps. Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Channelcat.jpg

Top image: Atlantic catfish, close parent of the pink salmon

Conservation Status

The species was considered an invasor species during the 1980's, by which point it was realized its potential by the Colombian government. It was rebranded as the Pink Salmon and would later be known globally as the Colombian Salmon. On 1988 all restrictions related to the fishing of the species were lifted and its numbers started decresing rapidly. By 1998 it would be exported for the first time to Europe and in 2002 it was first came to be known as the Colombian salmon after being exported by a series of German companies. The meat of the fish soon became known for its low price and flavour almost undistinguishable from that of a real salmon's meat. Soon after, caviar was also introduced in the market, rapidly becoming a cheap yet tasty competitor for red salmon caviar. By 2008 the fish numbers had decreased considerably, by which point it was started to be bred and grown as a government's initiative. However, the idea soon was discovered to be profitable, and companies started investing into it, becoming a common-use fish by the 2010's in both America and Europe, and somewhat Vinland too. Because of its recent fame, Pink Salmon's caviar price has gone up, but still being much cheaper than salmon caviar.

Geographic Distribution