Where is salmon raised

The U. Atlantic Salmon Assessment Committee monitors the population status of U. Atlantic Salmon Farmed Salmo salar. Sea run salmon, Kelts, Black salmon. Quick Facts Region. Only farm-raised Atlantic salmon are found in U. Environmental Impact Federal and state regulations and monitoring requirements ensure that salmon farming as practiced in the United States has minimal impact on the environment. Feeds Farmed salmon are incredibly efficient at converting feed to edible protein.

Farming Methods Atlantic salmon are spawned and raised in on-land hatcheries until large enough for transfer to net-pens in coastal waters. Human Health Atlantic salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Spindle-like body shape — rounded, broad in the middle, and tapered at each end. Typical of salmon species, shape is flattened toward the sides. Ventral paired fins are prominent, especially on juveniles. Spawning females lay an average of 7, eggs. Growth rates vary, depending on season, age, sex and population density.

After two years at sea, adult salmon have an average length of 28 to 30 inches and a weight of 8 to 12 pounds. Atlantic salmon do not die after spawning. Wild salmon is one of the last, truly all-natural food sources on earth. Wild-caught salmon typically do not face the same issues with contaminants. These wild salmon species have very large areas in which to live and swim whole oceans! Finally, because the darker hues of red are recognized as a sign of good-quality, many salmon farmers add chemicals to the diet of farmed fish in order to create a product that matches the natural fish.

Unfortunately, at some salmon farms, the woes and disappointments continue. There are many concerns about the use of antibiotics in factory farms, and the research is not only about land animals. Wild salmon have very little to no exposure to these animal drugs. Wild salmon is the safest option for those who are worried about ingesting animal drugs and the other health concerns that come with eating fish that have been raised on antibiotics.

Truly a natural and unadulterated protein, wild salmon is a great addition to any diet. We also understand that many of our customers at Wild for Salmon vote with their fork and that an environmentally-conscious mindset influences how they buy seafood.

In the case of salmon, we believe that wild-caught salmon is the best choice for the environment. If farmed salmon escape from the farms, they can disrupt the ecosystem by threatening to spread pathogens, such as sea lice, to the naturally healthy wild salmon population.

Meanwhile, wild salmon fit into, and contribute to, their natural ecosystem and do not increase environmental pollution. As participants and stewards of the Bristol Bay salmon run , the greatest and last completely wild source of salmon in the world, we here at Wild for Salmon sustainably catch our fish. Wild salmon is waiting for you! Order yours today right here.

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page. Wild Caught Salmon vs. Salmon is often prized for its health benefits. This fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids , which have been shown to help with cellular function, nervous system regulation, and inflammatory responses, among other important processes 1. However, not all salmon is created equal.

This article explores the differences between wild and farmed salmon and explains whether one might be better for you than the other. But half of the salmon sold worldwide comes from fish farms, which use a process known as aquaculture to breed fish for human consumption.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, by , fish farms will provide close to two-thirds of global food fish consumption 2 , 3. Whereas wild salmon eat other organisms found in their natural environment, farmed salmon are given a processed, high fat, high protein diet that makes them larger 4. The production of farmed salmon is increasing dramatically. Farmed salmon have a completely different diet and environment than wild salmon.

The table below provides a good comparison. Clearly, there are some nutritional differences, most notably the fat content 5 , 6. Interestingly, wild salmon seems to have higher amounts of natural minerals, including calcium and iron. The two main polyunsaturated fats are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

These fatty acids play important roles in your body and are called essential fatty acids, or EFAs, because you need them in your diet 7. Most people today consume too many omega-6s, distorting the delicate balance between these two types of fatty acids.

Scientists speculate that this can drive increased inflammation and may play a role in the uptick of certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease 8. While farmed salmon contains more fat than wild salmon, a large portion of that fat comes from omega-6 fatty acids 2 , 9. For this reason, the omega-3 to omega 6 ratio is higher in farmed salmon than in wild. Despite the differences, both farmed and wild salmon have a healthy omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which should lead to a large improvement in omega-3 intake for most people — and is often recommended for that purpose.

Though farmed salmon is much higher in omega-6 fatty acids than wild salmon, the total is still too low to cause much concern. Both farmed and wild fish tend to ingest contaminants from the water they swim in and the food they eat 2 , While a study found that farmed salmon had much higher concentrations of contaminants than wild salmon, both wild and farmed salmon have been shown to contain PCBs and dioxins , synthetic compounds once used in industrial and commercial processes 12 , Even though there is some evidence that PCBs and dioxins act as carcinogens in humans, the health benefits of both wild and farmed salmon outweigh the risks of the small amounts of synthetic compounds they may contain And according to the Washington State Department of Health , there are currently strict rules on contaminant levels in feed ingredients for farmed salmon.

These changes have lowered contaminant levels in farmed fish in recent years Farmed salmon may contain more contaminants than wild salmon, but stricter rules on feed ingredients could be closing the gap. And while both types of salmon may contain contaminants, the health benefits of eating salmon outweigh the small risks.