| As overfishing has become increasingly problematic | | | | cancer-causing toxins that their wild relatives do not. |
| and wild fish populations less sufficient to feed the | | | | Farm-raised salmon are also dyed with artificial coloring |
| growing human population, the world has become | | | | to match the pinkish tone of wild-caught salmon; |
| more and more dependent on aquaculture, or fish | | | | otherwise, their flesh would appear an unappetizing |
| farming. In fact, today, one out of every four fish | | | | gray color. |
| consumed worldwide was raised on a farm. While, | | | | Aside from producing less nutritious fish, fish farming |
| overall, fish farming adds to global fish resources and | | | | also has many detrimental effects on the environment, |
| helps to balance out the effects of overfishing, for | | | | impacting wild fish populations by displacing natural |
| multiple reasons that are both nutritious and | | | | breeding habitats, spreading diseases like sea lice that |
| environmental, wild-caught fish are far superior to their | | | | kill wild species, and further polluting the oceans in |
| farm-raised cousins. Therefore, you should always look | | | | innumerable ways. Salmon farms, for example, litter |
| for wild-caught options, like wild-caught Alaska salmon, | | | | the sea floor with excrement (equivalent in amount to |
| when shopping for fish to cook for your family. | | | | the sewage of a city of 1,000 people) and uneaten |
| From a nutritional standpoint, it is important to note that, | | | | feed, both of which breed bacteria that damage living |
| despite being fattier than wild fish, farmed fish provide | | | | conditions of shellfish and other bottom-dwelling |
| less protein and usable Omega-3 fatty acids, which | | | | creatures. This can throw entire ecosystems out of |
| are beneficial to the heart. Wild-caught Alaska salmon, | | | | wack. |
| for example has a 20% higher protein content and | | | | When buying salmon, it's recommended that you ask |
| 20% lower fat content than their farm-raised | | | | for wild-caught Alaska salmon first, since Alaska's |
| counterparts (which are higher in harmful, | | | | natural habitats and conservation efforts make for the |
| pro-inflammatory Omega-6 fatty acids). Furthermore, | | | | healthiest populations worldwide. Wild-caught Alaska |
| due to feedlot conditions, which include dousing them in | | | | salmon have also ranked first in blind taste tests for |
| antibiotics and exposing them to concentrated | | | | flavor, texture, and aroma. |
| pesticides, farm-raised fish contain contaminants and | | | | |