Farmed or wild salmon?

[Odyssey]

I was debating with a friend about eating salmon and the environmental impacts.

Questions:

1. Which is better for the environment?

2. Which is better for human consumption?

[Frankito]

That's a question only Thomas Mciwlwwgwtwtght can answer.

[camberwell70]

I like both.

[maxxi]

Either way we shouldn't eat too much of them.

FSA guidelines recommend only 2-3 portions (of any oily fish) a week because of dioxins in the fish (wild or farmed) caused by industrial pollution. Oily fish attract/absorb much more of this poison than non-oily fish which is safer to eat in greater amounts.

[Annette Curtain]

Wow...

Sounds like a fun filled lunch

Wild preferably but farmed hot smoked ( by me of course ) is good too.

NETTE:)

[Thomas Micklewright]

Why thank you frankito, I appear to be making a name for myself as an animal welfare consultant.

I'll come back to you on this one, from where are the suggested 'wild' salmon source?

[Loz]

Health-wise: Wild Salmon. Farmed salmon has quite a few issues regarding fish health.

Environmental wise... a bit of a conundrum. Wild stocks can obviously only handle so much fishing, but farming's impact on the environment can be pretty big itself.

[david_carnell]

Then you've got to factor in the fact that fish farms support communities, in often remote parts of the country, with good jobs.

However, that is then counteracted (possibly) by the fact that farmed salmon has undercut wild salmon to such an extent that it has become uneconomical to fish and put fisherman out of business.

Veeeery tricky and emotive subject.

[Magpie]

In the context of overfishing (such that wild fish populations for many species are close to collapse), alongside an ever increasing demand for fish, then fish farming is surely the "sustainable" solution. Farmed salmon has a number of significant issues eg disease, pollution, welfare and impact on wild fish stocks, but assuming that these can be addressed via strict legislation (as per land-based farming) then it is the way forward. An interesting side-angle is around looking at alternatives to sea-fish - most fresh water fisheries (trout, course) are managed for sport, although historically most medieval monastries/estates would have had a carp pond for eating.

[Salsaboy]

Smoked wild salmon with a dab of foie gras on it.

[The Minkey]

On the subject of over-fishing, the Faro Islands have authorised mega-trawlers to come take the summer mackerel out of their waters to be used as feed for livestock. This is predicted to wipe out stocks of mackerel world-wide within 3 years.

[maxxi]

Iceland (who else) are doing the same - sanctions - including a ban on all fish products from both countries - being talked of as the only answer.

[Laddy Muck]

What about where salmon is farmed organically? Surely that makes a difference?