Fishy Situation: Farm Raised Fish vs. Fresh Caught

Have you ever checked the package of your fish seeing if it was farm raised or plucked from the sea? I know I haven't until it came to my attention recently. Here is my research and my findings.

Q: Does farm raised fish have lower nutrition value.

A: There are some major differences in the nutrients provided by natural verses farm raised. Some are larger than others, but honestly a few grams loss of protein are not the end of the world. (7)

3oz. serving size of raw fish	Protein (g)	Calcium (mg)	Iron (mg)	Fat (sat)	Fat (mono)	Fat (poly)	Cholesterol (mg)	Omega-3 (g)
Salmon, Atlantic, farmed	17.36	8	0.29	2.59	3.20	3.30	47	1.67
Salmon, Atlantic, wild	16.86	10	0.68	0.83	1.79	2.16	47	1.22
Salmon, coho, farmed	18.08	10	0.29	1.54	2.83	1.58	43	1.03
Salmon, coho, wild	18.38	31	0.48	1.07	1.81	1.69	38	0.92
Catfish, channel, farmed	12.95	7	0.20	1.11	2.19	0.95	47	0.06
Catfish, channel, wild	13.92	12	0.26	0.61	0.72	0.74	49	0.31
Trout, rainbow, farmed	16.95	21	0.26	1.18	1.68	1.28	50	0.62
Trout, rainbow, wild	17.41	57	0.60	0.61	0.96	1.05	50	0.50

Q: Does farm raised have more mercury than fresh caught?

A:Mercury is most commonly found in fish that are ocean dwelling, bottom dwellers or fish that eat smaller fish. It is found most highly in wales, dolphins and sharks. You can also find them in higher concentrations in swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and tuna. (5)  Farm raised fish are given fish for food, but the fish are also given algae, left over chicken products or other "sustainable proteins". (3) Usually farm raised fish have less mercury than fresh caught due to their diets.

Mercury poisoning is more serious for women in childbearing age, pregnant, breast feeding, or small children because of the large impact mercury has on neurological growth. (1) Many countries have put a warning on certain fish for mercury (exception includes Japan). (4) Follow the regulations of eating fish with mercury which is once a week. Grilling and boiling the fish helps release the toxins from your fish as well.

Q: What is the cost difference?

A:Wild Atlantic salmon cost an average of $15 a pound while farm raised salmon is $6 a pound (1). I don't know about you but I don't have an extra $10 for tenth of a difference in nutrition. It also depends on the season. Most fish, like most consumable products, have a season. They require an off season to produce offspring and grow to be that amazing 20 pounder you caught on that Alaska trip (please invite me next time!)

Q: Which is most ecologically friendly?

A: In the US, aquaculture is tightly monitored for pollution, sanitation, hormone and genetic modifications so that concern really is miniscule (6). There is also a concern for the carbon footprint. In this video they mention that it takes 2.5 pounds of product to create 1 pound of fish when it comes to fish farming "better than our competitors"(3). Yet there are some fish farms trying to create a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem that they can harvest the fish therein.

With fresh caught, the resources can change quickly and dramatically depending on things out of our control. One year there could be thousands of tuna and the next, none. Which in turn raises prices, puts people out of jobs, and damages that diet you are striving so hard to keep up with.

References

(1)http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm#meth
(2) http://www.chathamjournal.com/weekly/living/food/cr-salmon-wild-60705.shtml
(3) http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_barber_how_i_fell_in_love_with_a_fish/transcript?language=en#t-5000
(4)http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm115644.htm
(5)http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/farm-raised-vs-wild-caught-fish
(6)http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/
(7)http://greenopedia.com/article/health-comparison-wild-caught-fish-vs-farmed-fish