Wild Salmon vs. Farm Raised Salmon

Written By Tanya Diaz

We all know that salmon is a healthy option for dinner - it's high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. So what makes one type of salmon different from the other? 

75% of salmon consumption comes from farm raised salmon, so chances are you are too. Up to 200,000 farm raised salmon are raised single large cages in the ocean and raise health and environmental concerns. 

  • Nutrition (farm-raised compared to wild): 

    • Farm-raised have half the amount of EPA and DHA (Omega-3 fatty acids)

    • 3 times more saturated fat

    • More calories 

  • Red dye is added to the salmon’s food to enhance the color of the salmon. 

  • Antibiotics are used to protect the salmon from disease. However, this widespread use of antibiotics is encouraging antibiotic-resistant genes which threatens humans' ability to fight against pathogens. 

  • Pesticides are used to treat sea lice that invade farm raised salmon. In one study, pyrethroids were found in 100% of farm-raised salmon and found in 50% of wild salmon. 

  • Persistent environmental pollutants (POPs) are found in higher amounts in farmed salmon. 

  • POPs can cause reproductive and developmental problems, interfere with natural hormones such as the sex hormones, can damage the immune system, and can cause cancer.

  • Remember PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl)? Those chemicals that were banned in the US in the 70s are found in levels that are 16 times higher in farm-raised fish than in wild fish. 

SO, any salmon is still a great recommendation for dinner compared to an alternative like fast food. But try to avoid all that junk and get wild salmon, just remember to add a bit more seasoning. 


References:

Clara Sauphar, Christian Stolz, Stig Atle Tuene, Lars Christian Gansel, Grete Kristine Følsvik Hansen Aas, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) distribution and vertical size-stratification in a commercial sea cage: A case study, Aquaculture, Volume 581, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740356.

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, August 12). Fish faceoff: Wild salmon vs. Farmed Salmon. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/fish-faceoff-wild-salmon-vs-farmed-salmon

Trilling, D. (2022, May 25). Farmed versus wild salmon: Research review. The Journalist’s Resource. https://journalistsresource.org/environment/farmed-versus-wild-salmon-research-explainer/

Tanya Diaz
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