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While aquaculture is a good choice for some species of fish, you should always ask for and buy wild salmon. Here are five reasons why: 1. Farmed salmon pollute. Farmed salmon are raised in floating net-pens -- basically, the marine equivalent of factory farms. The intense accumulation of wastes from these operations can spoil the local marine environment and spread disease. In addition to natural wastes, farmed salmon are given antibiotics (more than any other livestock by weight) as well as other drugs that may compromise human health and harm nearshore ecosystems. 2. Farmed salmon escape. Storms and sea lions can wreak havoc on net pens, causing large releases of farmed salmon. Much of the salmon farmed in the Pacific Ocean is, in fact, Atlantic salmon -- an exotic species. Even on the Atlantic seaboard, escapees pose a problem as they may ultimately compete with and displace precarious native stocks. 3. Farmed salmon aren't cheap. The price per pound may seem like a bargain, but globally speaking, farmed salmon is anything but cheap. The fact is farmed salmon represent a net loss of protein, requiring 3-5 pounds of fishmeal to yield a pound of salmon. Factor in the energy expended to catch, process and transport that fishmeal, and "cheap" Atlantic salmon suddenly seem absurdly expensive. 4. Eating wild salmon is better for you. As with livestock, farmed salmon are administered the same antibiotics used to treat humans, a practice condemned by the World Health Organization for contributing to worldwide antibiotic resistance. Wild salmon are not only drug- and antibiotic-free, they also have higher levels beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and lower levels of harmful saturated fats. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmed Atlantic salmon contain 70 percent more fat than wild Atlantic salmon and 200 percent more fat than wild Pacific pink and chum salmon. But perhaps most importantly, farm-raised salmon have been found to contain significantly higher concentrations of PCBs, dioxin and other cancer-causing contaminants than salmon caught in the wild. 5. Wild salmon taste better. Chefs agree: Wild salmon simply taste better and have better texture than farm-raised fish, which tend to be mushy and insipid. Without added dyes, farmed fish also lack the trademark color of natural salmon. For the very best salmon, buy it fresh and in season. Premium choices include troll-caught and Copper River salmon from Alaska. Most canned salmon is also wild, as farmed fish don't pack well. Lastly, keep in mind that while many wild salmon runs are threatened, endangered or even extinct, many are also still healthy. As a general rule, wild stocks in Alaska are faring far better than those of California and the Pacific Northwest. As for Atlantic salmon, there are virtually no harvestable wild runs left in the United States. To protect the existing harvestable runs, consume knowledgeably and responsibly. Say no to farmed salmon. 
Aquaculture's Troubled Harvest. This article by journalist Bruce Barcott appeared Nov/Dec 2000 issue of Mother Jones magazine. Salmon Nation, an Ecotrust Book, provides a great overview of the current state of affairs. The website also has useful maps, showing the regional status of Pacific salmon stocks. Image courtesy NOAA. Up to Top |
