The demand for seafood is increasing as the world’s population grows. This increase in demand has led to certain seafood species being overfished, meaning that there literally are not enough fish in the sea.
This issue has led to a new kind of agriculture: aquaculture, where aquatic species are raised in farms under controlled conditions. One of the most common farmed fish is salmon — high in omega-3 fatty acids and very popular across North American and the world.
As farmed fish have become more common, so has the controversy of whether you should eat wild or farmed. However, both types have similar benefits, and most of the health concerns are now handled through monitoring and regulation of the industry.
The three main arguments between the farmed and wild camps are:
- Environmental concerns
- Omega-3 fatty acid levels in edible portions.
One concern is that importing farmed Atlantic salmon eggs into the Pacific will transfer diseases to wild fish. This issue is controlled by government restrictions on how eggs are imported.
Disease is also minimized by testing broodstock salmon (a group of mature individuals used for breeding purposes) before their eggs are taken.
Likewise, farmed salmon are monitored for tiny parasites called sea lice. Authorities in the U.S. and western Canada check monthly for the parasites and require an investigation and treatment of farms that fail to comply.
Pollution is also a concern among farmed salmon, specifically in the water where the fish are raised. This pollution comes from fish excrement and uneaten feed, which can pollute the environment where the fish are raised. This is monitored and controlled by government regulations.
Another common worry about farmed salmon deals with contamination. Past studies have reported high levels of PCBs and other contaminants. Follow-up studies have not confirmed that farmed salmon is worse for you than wild salmon. Most scientists agree that both types of salmon are safe foods.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish is an important part of a healthy diet, and salmon in particular is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in all fish, but are higher among fish that store more oils in their muscles, such as salmon.
Omega-3 fatty acids are in both farmed and wild salmon, but the way the fish gain these nutrients is different. Wild salmon eat algae and plankton that contain omega-3s. Farmed salmon, however, eat differently and what is in their feed determines how much omega-3 fatty acids they contain. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted testing that found that farmed salmon was an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Health professionals recommend that we increase our intake of omega-3 fatty acids because they are essential nutrients for our nervous system, heart, and brain health.