Western Australian Salmon

Interesting Info

• Western Australian Salmon are found along the coastal waters of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. They can be found along the entire coastline from Shark Bay in Western Australia to as far east as Tasmania.
• They have a have a streamlined body shape with a silver to bluish coloration on their back and sides, fading to a white belly. They can grow up to 1 meter in length and weigh around 9 kilograms, making them a relatively large species of salmon.
• Western Australian Salmon are opportunistic predators, feeding primarily on small fish, crustaceans, and squid. They have a voracious appetite and can be seen aggressively chasing and herding schools of baitfish.
• They are known for their annual migration along the Western Australian coast. They move in large numbers, covering vast distances in search of suitable feeding grounds and spawning areas.
• These salmon are fast and powerful swimmers, capable of reaching high speeds when hunting or migrating. They often swim in large schools or shoals, which helps protect them from predators and facilitates their feeding and breeding behaviours.
• In addition to being a predator, they are also prey and an important food source for sharks, dolphins, seals, and seabirds.
• These fish are known for their annual mass spawning events, which occur during the Australian autumn (March to May). They migrate in large numbers to shallow coastal areas, where females release eggs into the water and males simultaneously release sperm to fertilise them.
• Estimates of lifespan are between 10 – 12 years.