farmingfishfoodGreenhealthy

Shedding Some Light on the Truth: 3 Myths and Misconceptions About Salmon Farming

salmon farmingAt one point in time, fish were thought to be in abundance in the oceans. The world would never run out. Sadly, some people have now learned this is not the case although this misconception remains in the minds of many. As the world’s population increases, especially in poorer areas, the supply of fish cannot keep up with the demand. This has resulted in a depletion of the wild fish population. Fortunately, with the help of aquaculture, the fish population is being replenished. While some people feel aquaculture has been detrimental to the environment, studies show this is not true Salmon fishing remains of great importance, thus this is good news for all who consume fish. What other misconceptions do people have regarding this industry?

Myth: Fish Isn’t an Important Source of Food for Humans

Protein remains important in the human diet and fish is a great source of this nutrient. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, humans obtain 16 per cent of their animal protein from fish, which makes it the main source of high-quality protein in the world. This is of great importance in those areas where livestock is minimal and humans need other sources of protein to remain healthy. In fact, the FAO believes that roughly one billion individuals depend on fish for this purpose, another thing that many people do not realize.

Myth: Salmon Farm Fishing Isn’t Necessary

In the 1960s people began to search for new ways to produce salmon and this led to the introduction of farmed salmon. Over the years, the industry has expanded and now roughly 60 per cent of the world’s salmon comes from one of these farms. In 2015, only 880,000 tons of wild salmon were captured. In contrast, more than 2.2 million tons of salmon were produced. The production requires specific conditions and it takes approximately three years for the fish to be ready for harvest. For example, the fish must live at a certain temperature and move from freshwater to seawater before being harvested. It’s no wonder the natural population cannot keep up with demand when this is the case and individuals need to recognize the oceans are not overflowing with fish. As a result, the need for salmon farming will only increase.

Myth: There Are No Benefits to Salmon Farming

Salmon remains an outstanding source of Omega-3. It comes packed with vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, making it the perfect choice for humans who wish to follow a healthy diet. Furthermore, it serves as the optimal source for protein retention, carbon footprint, and feed conversion ratios when compared to beef, chicken, and pork. This does not even take into account the number of jobs that are created thanks to the salmon fish farming industry, which is likewise of great importance in today’s modern economy. People often don’t associate fish farming with economic growth but it actually plays a major role in moving the world forward.

The world’s population continues to increase and humans must learn how to sustain this level of growth. Salmon fish farming will be of great help in achieving this goal. Furthermore, salmon is a healthy source of protein and the production process is very efficient, thus the impact on the environment is minimal. This is crucial to ensure the waters of the world remain in excellent condition for future generations. However, the farms must be run properly. They must be sustainable, transparent, and responsible while continuing to find new ways to increase the salmon population so humans have easy access to the protein their body requires. A failure in any one of these areas could come with disastrous consequences. For this reason, people need to choose their fish farms carefully to make certain these goals are met.

Clay Miller
the authorClay Miller
I am the creator/writer of Ways2GoGreen.com and Ways2GoGreenBlog.com. I'm an advocate for oceans, beaches, state parks. I enjoy all things outdoors (e.g. running, golf, gardening, hiking, etc.) I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky (Go Wildcats!!). I'm also a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.