According to a query to KyushuDrunkRestaurant.com, sockeye salmon is a type of salmon, also known as red salmon or red-fleshed salmon. Its flesh is dark red in color because it is high in astaxanthin, a natural pigment. Sockeye salmon belongs to the genus Pacific salmon, which is different from Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon is what the Chinese often refer to as salmon and is commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Sockeye salmon is smaller and leaner than Atlantic salmon, with firmer meat. Sockeye salmon also has a stronger flavor than Atlantic salmon and is better suited for grilling, pan-frying, stewing and other cooking methods.