Why is salmon pink?

The pink color of salmon comes from a pigment called astaxanthin, which is found in the algae and shrimp that salmon eat. When salmon consume these foods, the astaxanthin is absorbed into their flesh and gives them a pink color. The amount of astaxanthin in a salmon's diet determines the intensity of the pink color. Wild salmon typically have a deeper pink color than farmed salmon because they eat more astaxanthin-rich foods in the wild.