Rock salmon facts for kids

Rock salmon, also known as rock eel, flake, huss, or Sweet William, is a popular dish in Britain. It is often served as part of a classic fish and chips meal. Even though it's called "rock salmon," this dish is actually made from different types of small sharks.

What is Rock Salmon?

The name "rock salmon" is a common way to refer to the firm, white meat of several small shark species. People often choose it because its texture is similar to other popular fish, and it tastes great with chips. It's a traditional choice in many British fish and chip shops.

Types of Sharks Used

Several kinds of small sharks are used to make rock salmon. These include:

• The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
• The starry smooth-hound (Mustelus asterias)
• The rough-hound (Scyliorhinus canicula)
• The bull huss (Scyliorhinus stellaris)

These sharks are usually found in the waters around Europe. They are often caught by fishing boats that target various types of fish.

"Rock salmon" with shrimp and saffron sauce on a bed of spinach.

Protecting Our Oceans: The Spiny Dogfish

While rock salmon is enjoyed in many European countries, it's important to know about the sharks used. For example, the spiny dogfish is now considered an endangered species. This means its numbers in the ocean have dropped a lot.

The main reason for this decline is overfishing. Overfishing happens when too many fish are caught, faster than they can reproduce and grow. This makes it hard for the species to recover.

The spiny dogfish is listed on the IUCN Red List. This list helps track the health of animal and plant species around the world. The spiny dogfish is classed as "Vulnerable" globally. The population in the North East Atlantic Ocean, where many are caught for rock salmon, is even more at risk. It is classed as "Critically Endangered." This means it faces a very high risk of disappearing from the wild.

Learning about these issues helps us understand the importance of sustainable fishing. Sustainable fishing means catching fish in a way that allows their populations to stay healthy for the future.