According to WebMD, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, low in saturated fat, and abundant in protein. It certainly doesn't hurt that it tastes wonderful.
There are different kinds of salmon that Americans can buy. Atlantic, chum, pink, Coho, sockeye, steelhead, and king or Chinook salmon are raised in farms.
While you can make a meal out of canned pink salmon for a couple of dollars, the price of king salmon might leave you gasping for air.
Quality Seafood Delivery says that a pound of king salmon costs a crazy $30 to $70. This means that king salmon costs twice as much as other salmon.
If you do the arithmetic, you can see that a whole fish would cost a pretty penny, given that some individuals of this species may weigh more than 100 pounds.
Food & Wine says its scarcity drives up its price. In 2019, Americans caught just 9.9 million pounds of king salmon but 290 million pounds of sockeye.
According to The Atlantic, its high fat level gives it a luscious texture. Large, meaty filets make king the most desired fish.
Ivory king salmon is rarer. According to Savory Alaska, ivory king salmon have a recessive gene that prevents their flesh from turning pink, crimson, or orange.
On the outside, the fish appears to be a typical king. Fishermen don't know what they've caught until the fish is processed.