Why Do Salmon Love Cold Water?

Have you noticed that in the winter months, we tend to slow down, we need a bit more food in our bellies, and grow more slowly? But it doesn’t mean that we don’t play and enjoy the cold, especially when riding sleighs or skiing in the snow. Right? The same is true for salmon—they love the winter, they keep plenty of hearty food in their bellies, and they grow slowly! And let us tell you why…

First and foremost, salmon are cold-blooded fish that can live in different water temperature variations—from summer to winter. Their body temperature changes accordingly to that of their environment.

Still, they have their own favorite preference temperature zone where growth, reproduction, and other activities are happening more effectively and that is… the cold!

Salmon not only love cold water, but they also need it to thrive! And they intentionally swim towards it. Why?

Salmon love cold water because it holds more oxygen compared to warm water and oxygen is healthy for the growth of any fish! Cold water also slows down salmon’s metabolism, so they digest food longer and need less food. As it takes a while for a salmon’s meal to be completely absorbed, the fish are having more “chill time,” instead of constantly looking for food.

Salmon can’t be in water heated up to more than 70 F degrees and when given the choice, they actively seek cooler and lower temperatures, typically around 55 F degrees.

When in warm water, salmon’s digestion enzymes become way more active and that requires the fish to eat more often and to be chasing food all the time without stopping to relax and hang around. On top of that, warm water is not as rich in oxygen, which leads to a drop in oxygen levels in the fish and more sluggish and lazy behavior. And that makes it more challenging to look for food, when hungry.

As the Norwegian Sea and coastline run through the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian cold water is very salmon-friendly! At Kvaroy Arctic, the salmon literally live in their favorite natural conditions. Ice cold waters make the Kvaroy Arctic salmon grow slowly, without any rush, and develop optimally, which leads also to richer taste. Yum!