Salmon is a luxury food all over the world. Since there are billions of people on this planet, the demand for fish is increasing. One of the main issues with this is that the amount of wild salmon cannot sustain the growing population of humans. The food industry is becoming more and more dependent on farmed salmon. Nearly three-fourths of salmon harvested is farmed, but there is only one salmon farm that has an approved purchase rating. Although other farms are monitored and tested, they are recommended “void.” While farming salmon is effective, there are many problems that need to be recognized. Some problems pertaining to farming fish include pollution – mostly fecal matter that builds up around the farming areas; escapees – fish that find their way out of the pens and into the open; contaminants – chemicals like ” polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)” and “dioxins” found in farmed fish and mercury and metals found in wild salmon; and parasites and disease – sea lice, which are actually becoming resistant to “parasiticides.” While there are problems in wild salmon as well, the choice of consumption is dependent on the person. Improvements in salmon farming are continually being made; however, “salmon farms will never have zero impact on the environment.”
Author: Diego Madrid
Article: https://seattletimes.com/html/foodwine/2021993598_farmedsalmon09xml.html
