How We Catch our Fish -- The Wild vs. Farm Fish Debate

             We make a lot of decisions in the grocery store.  Which brand should I pick?  Is this product cheaper?  Should I choose organic?  Some decisions seem easier than others based on our priorities (and our budget!).  But one of the decisions I still struggle with is whether to purchase wild or farm-raised fish.  In this blog I’m hoping to outline the pros and cons of each type of fish production, and maybe help to make that decision in the grocery store a little easier for you.

Wild Caught – The “Not So Obvious” Choice

Pros -- You may be reading this thinking, “Well, I obviously choose wild caught—it’s the ‘natural’ choice”.  This is true, taking fish out of their natural habitat means these fish ate algae and plankton, had natural breeding patterns, and contributed to their ecosystem by eating smaller fish, and surviving the possible fate of being eaten by predators.

Cons -- Over the past few decades, the amount of fish in our oceans have been subject to overfishing and poor resource management, exploiting nearly 90% of the natural fish stocks.  Basically, fish cannot reproduce as fast as we catch and eat them.  Not only does this change in fish population change ecosystems, but it can have significant social and economic impacts on the 200 million people worldwide who are employed by the fishing industry. 

Farm-Raised Fish – The “Not So Obvious” Solution to Overfishing

Pros – Farm raised fish is one strategy used to sustain fisheries and maintain the amount and variety of edible fish for future generations.  It also supports the fishing industry as a whole, especially and individuals whose livelihoods are dependent on harvesting fish. Fish farms are also a “controlled” environment.  Having a single species in one location reduces fish waste and “bycatch,” or other animal species caught unintentionally, like turtles, sharks, and seabirds.

Cons – Like other forms of mass-production livestock, fish produced in small, concentrated waters may be more susceptible to infection and illness.  As a result, these fish are often given antibiotics in their feeds.  In addition, there are concerns for moving fish stocks into unfamiliar waters outside their normal habits – such as moving salmon eggs from the Atlantic to the Pacific – and what this could mean for the spread of disease, breeding habits, and general changes in the ecosystem if they were to escape their controlled area.

There is still lots of controversy about the topic, including whether or not wild and farmed fish have different contaminant levels or concentrations of omega-3 fatty acid.  So, one way of producing fish isn’t 100% better than the other.  Each have positive and negative attributes, but we ultimately make the decision based on what is important to us. No matter the type you purchase, fish is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.  Don’t let this difficult decision stop you from eating fish altogether!  If you still are unsure about what to pick, ask the butcher on the other side of the counter where the fish came from, and how it was produced.  You can also check out Seafood Watch’s Consumer Guide or mobile app, which gives recommendations for sustainable and healthy fish to eat.

TB

References:

1. Washington State Department of Health. “Farmed Salmon vs. Wild Salmon”. https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Food/Fish/FarmedSalmon

2. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

3. Standford Magazine. Wild Salmon vs. Farmed: Essential Answer. https://stanfordmag.org/contents/wild-salmon-vs-farmed-essential-answer

4. Campbell, K., Noonan-Mooney, K., Mulongoy, K.J. Biodiversity, Nutrition and Human Well-Being in the Context of the Convention on Biological Diversity.  In: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity: Directions and Solutions for Policy, Research and Action. http://www.fao.org/3/i3004e/i3004e.pdf