Eating Responsibly: Tips for Consumers

DO:

• Know that all salmon are not the same . There are 7 species of wild salmon around the world. Salmon farmed in sea cages is a selectively bred commercial product called Atlantic salmon that is NOT the same as Wild Atlantic salmon which are endangered in the U.S. ¹ and critically threatened² globally.
• Consider that 99.9% of Atlantic Salmon consumed globally is farmed in sea cages, even salmon at high-end restaurants and specialty markets. This matters because: 1) Farmed Atlantic salmon escape from sea cages and harm wild Atlantic salmon; 2) Harsh chemicals, plastics, and high concentrations of animal waste harm the fish inside the cages and the surrounding ecosystem; 3) The feed used contributes to food insecurity.
• Check reputable guides like Seafood Watch from the Monterey Bay Aquarium which rates products as Best Choice (green), Good Alternative (yellow), and Avoid (red). While a strong attempt, Seafood Watch’s usefulness is limited by the lack of clear, comprehensive labeling across the seafood industry. Limit your choices to only the green or “Best Choice” category, and confirming what you are buying fully matches the description in the guide, is your safest bet.
• Add more variety to your diet: Given the scale of farmed salmon consumption, a good alternative is to eat a wider variety of protein sources like arctic char, trout, bivalves, smaller fish that are lower down the food chain, and plant-based protein .
• Be curious: The next time you’re tempted to order salmon at a restaurant, ask the server if the fish is farmed. If it is, look elsewhere on the menu.    

DON’T:

Be Fooled By Misleading Marketing:

• “Ocean-raised” – Sounds nice, but just because the sea cages are in the ocean doesn’t mean what’s inside of them is healthy, sustainable, or good for the environment. Learn more about sea cages here.
• “Responsibly Raised” – This is often greenwashing marketing lingo.
• “Organic” – The Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not set standards for “organic” salmon, or any fish.
• Geography is often misleading: Sea cages containing farmed Atlantic salmon are placed in oceans around the world, including the Pacific ocean. So, ocean-farmed salmon from Chile is most likely farmed Atlantic salmon from sea cages placed in the Pacific ocean.
• Greenwashing of Nature – Be wary of farmed salmon products that trade on the reputation of natural pristine places. Learn more about the reality of farming in sea cages here.  

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