🐟 Salmon, the King of the Sella River: Migration, Reproduction, and Threats
The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is an iconic species of the Sella River, considered by many to be the true king of these Asturian waters. Its anadromous behavior—born in the river, living in the sea, and returning to reproduce—makes its life cycle one of the most fascinating in the natural world.
Throughout its life, the salmon travels hundreds of kilometers but always returns to its native river to spawn. In the case of the Sella, this phenomenon repeats year after year, attracting both anglers and nature enthusiasts.
📅 Salmon Migration Calendar in the Sella River
The salmon’s return to the Sella does not occur uniformly. There are several runs throughout the year:
- 🕊️ February – March → The arrival of “vernales,” large specimens weighing up to 10 kg.
- 🌸 April – May → The “mayucos” run, salmon weighing between 4 and 8 kg.
- ☀️ Summer → The “añales” appear, young salmon weighing around 2 kg.
- 🍂 Autumn → After the fishing season, large specimens enter directly seeking the spawning grounds.
🐣 Salmon Reproduction: An Amazing Life Cycle
After migrating, the female digs nests in the riverbed and lays up to 20,000 eggs. The hatchlings remain in freshwater for 1 to 2 years.
When they reach the smolt stage, they develop a silvery color and migrate to the sea, where they grow before returning once again to the Sella River.
🌍 Distribution and Threats in Spain
In Spain, salmon mainly inhabit rivers along the Atlantic and Cantabrian slopes, with the Sella River being one of their main natural refuges.
However, this species is threatened due to:
🚧 Construction of dams and river barriers
💧 Water pollution
🐟 Overfishing or illegal fishing
🧬 Loss of genetic diversity
In the Sella, recovery and sustainable management plans have been implemented to protect its migratory cycle, improve spawning stretches, and keep this Asturian symbol alive.
tag: wildlife river sella
