Salmon Courses

What's So Important About Salmon?

Whether you're searching for a salmon recipe (salmon fillets with olive oil and black pepper, perhaps) or planning an Atlantic salmon fishing trip, you may not realize the importance of salmon on the environment. Salmon has a long history of value and reverence for indigenous people groups, and its migratory patterns have long fascinated scientists.

We know that salmon is an essential source of vitamins (such as vitamin A and vitamin C), minerals like potassium and calcium, and salmon skin is an excellent source of fatty acids. 

It's difficult to point to another species that has affected the populations of North America so profoundly. Wild salmon is not just a staple diet of the Alaskan people and other indigenous groups—they're a harbinger of climate change.

Scientists are looking at this species from the point of view of native cultures, looking to understand how shifts in the environment, overfishing, even the rise of farmed salmon are affecting wild populations. It turns out that there's more at stake than just omega-3 fatty acids and some vitamins. 

Learn about Salmon

edX offers courses covering unique aspects of our world. Students learn from leaders and experts in the field of science and gain experience looking deeper into the connections we have with all living things.

Courses are available for free, but students needing professional development or a career boost can opt into official credit or certification for a fee. The courses make it easy to leap into a new field or explore interests and hobbies right from home.

Salmon Courses

The University of Alaska offers a unique look at the relationship between Alaskan salmon and the native populations that rely on the species for food and sustenance. Students explore how these freshwater species have influenced environmental management practices and take a close look at the reverence local people have for the fish that has sustained them for generations.

Students also learn what environmental changes mean for salmon populations. These changes could have profound effects on the people and land, leading some researchers to propose unique answers to the challenges of climate change and the best salmon preservation methods.

The Heritage of Salmon

From sockeye to Coho to King salmon and other vital species for Alaskan populations, Chinook tribes, and other people groups of the Pacific Northwest, edX explores the relationship people have to their environment through the lens of this important fish. While you're looking for your next baked salmon recipe using a baking sheet and veggies or deciding if garlic butter or balsamic vinegar marinade works better, you'll also understand the unique contributions of this fish.

You can broil up a salmon dish and ignite your fascination with this species. You can create an easy weeknight dish and take a lesson in cultural heritage. You can use fresh herbs and a fresh perspective. It's time to expand your understanding with edX and the University of Alaska.