Again and again we are told that a healthy diet consists of fish. Twice a week is ideal and at least one of those servings should include a fish that is rich in heart healthy omega-3’s. Salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids, those fabulous oils that make our hair shine and our skin moist. However, when we get to the store there is a choice to be made. Wild salmon or farmed?

What exactly does Farm Raised mean?

1. Farm salmon are basically raised in an ocean cage. They are fed pellets which contain antibiotics, food coloring so that their flesh is pink/orange instead of grey, (Yep- farm raised salmon have naturally grey flesh because of what they are fed), and pesticides to kill the lice (that they would otherwise be infested with).

2. Past results have shown higher rates of cancer causing PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) stored in the fat cells of farmed salmon. Wild salmon also contain some PCB’s but much less than farmed salmon.

3. Waste from the pellets and (large concentration of) salmon feces pollute our ocean waters.

4. Farm raised salmon that escape put wild salmon in jeopardy, spreading sea lice and other deadly diseases to the wild salmon. Studies show a decline of more than 50% in wild salmon populations where a salmon farm is near.

Price

Farmed salmon may seem cheaper than wild, however globally speaking, it is anything but cheap. Water pollution, disease, the high content of wild fish in the feed and the overuse of antibiotics all have an impact on our oceans, wild fish population (not just salmon) and our health.

Taste

Of course, taste does matter! Farm raised salmon is generally more mild in flavor with a somewhat mushy texture. Wild salmon, depending on the type you buy, is more flavorful with a firm texture.

What to look for at the store

Stores often advertise salmon as “Fresh” or “Atlantic” but if it doesn’t say “Wild” then it’s farmed. Be careful, even salmon labeled “Pacific” is no longer a guaranteed wild fish. Look for “Wild” or “Alaskan” caught salmon and check supermarket weekly flyers for good deals. Supermarkets often feature their freshest fish at an attractive price and the sooner you get it off the boat the better it will taste! I always check the small print at the bottom right hand corner of the fish advertisement to see if it says “fresh” or “fresh/frozen.” Fresh means it has never been frozen and “fresh/frozen” means it’s been frozen and then thawed at the store.

First of the year King salmon is already available! However, if price is an issue, look for specials on frozen wild salmon. Stores are trying to get rid of last year’s catch in order to ready themselves for this year’s run.

Please visit our Sources:
National Geographic- Farmed Salmon Decimating Wild salmon Worldwide
National Geographic- Everybody Loves Atlantic Salmon…Here’s the Catch
Blue Ocean
Sierra Club
Berkley Wellness Newsletter