Farm Raised Seafood versus Wild Caught – Myths and Facts

I love salmon. It’s one of the few foods that is delicious AND healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have been linked to health benefits from fetal development to prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The big debate in the press and at the fish counter is farm raised versus wild salmon. Since aquaculture is a big focus of AquaMetrix it’s a subject in which I have a particular interest. So…yes…I am biased. But I do believe in science.

The myth is that salmon raised in tanks are subject to polluted water, infections, doses of hormones and poor diet. In fact, quite the opposite is true. In a study by Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia , researchers analyzed and compared the nutritional benefits of farm raised versus salmon. Farm raised salmon included Atlantic, organic Atlantic and organic Chinook. Wild caught salmon included Chinook, Pacific and Sockeye. Protein and DHA/EPA were within 20% of each other for both groups, with the exception of wild Sockeye, which blew out the other fish by as much a factor of 8. No other animal source contributes as much Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Overall, the conclusion was that the species of fish determined its nutritional value more than its origin.

The effect of farm raised fish on the environment brings even better news. According to the Ottawa-based RIAS (Regulatory Impacts, Alternatives and Strategies) group, farm raised salmon is 24% less costly to the environment than chicken and 80% less costly than beef.
The world’s population is growing and needs a sustainable source of food to keep up. By 2050 there will be an additional two billion mouths to feed. There simply isn’t enough fish in the ocean to harvest in a sustainable fashion. Farm raised fish represents the best source of protein at the lowest cost and the lowest environmental impact. It currently represents about 18% of animal protein consumed in the world. However, for island nations and those in the Arctic that percentage is 80%. The rest of the world would do well to emulate them.

One more thing. We Americans like to buy American. It’s the one thing upon which Democrats and Republicans agree. We import more than 90% of the seafood we eat. The trade deficit for this wholesome food category is about $17 billion. It is the market with the largest deficit. So, eat farm raised fish. It’s delicious, it’s good for you and it’s good for your country.