Why farmed fish isn't always more sustainable than wild (but definitely sometimes is)
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Date: 2021-12-21
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Comments and reviews: 9
Chris
This is really interesting, adam. And i'm glad you're passionate about it.
As a person who grew up in a fishing/lobstering family in NS, I spent my summers working on a salmon farm. I really believe what was said, the placement of the farm is crucial. The farm i worked on was in 20 fathom of water, which was sheltered, and great circulation. We used to conduct tests pretty much daily on surrounding conditions. For instance, we would do what were called 'mort dives' - French for death dives, why it was called that, i don't know, where we'd scuba down and pick out dead salmon (i ate a LOT of salmon at that time, since many of them were 'fresh' dead that day) - and we'd do soil samplings and testing in the surrounding area. It was very efficient, and that particular site worked very well. That being said, one year, there was a parasite that wiped out every salmon in the farm - roughly 400, 000 salmon all different sizes and ages.
The feed was what we really couldn't control, what was actually in the food we were providing. Who knows what was in that crap. But (no pun intended) I shoveled tons and tons and tons of it in a circular motion around the pens for 14-16 hours a day.
Interesting topic, and of much debate.
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This is really interesting, adam. And i'm glad you're passionate about it.
As a person who grew up in a fishing/lobstering family in NS, I spent my summers working on a salmon farm. I really believe what was said, the placement of the farm is crucial. The farm i worked on was in 20 fathom of water, which was sheltered, and great circulation. We used to conduct tests pretty much daily on surrounding conditions. For instance, we would do what were called 'mort dives' - French for death dives, why it was called that, i don't know, where we'd scuba down and pick out dead salmon (i ate a LOT of salmon at that time, since many of them were 'fresh' dead that day) - and we'd do soil samplings and testing in the surrounding area. It was very efficient, and that particular site worked very well. That being said, one year, there was a parasite that wiped out every salmon in the farm - roughly 400, 000 salmon all different sizes and ages.
The feed was what we really couldn't control, what was actually in the food we were providing. Who knows what was in that crap. But (no pun intended) I shoveled tons and tons and tons of it in a circular motion around the pens for 14-16 hours a day.
Interesting topic, and of much debate.
reply
Ian
Not to mention, the fact that the younger generation is continuing to farm is actually a big deal. One of my best friends in school, his dad was a crop and dairy farmer, but he became a banker and his brother a nuclear plant technician. Of the other farming families I grew up around I don't know any who were in my class that are still there farming. Quite sad. But I actually get it.
As for the sustainability, regulation and such will help, but boy-o it's really a paradigm shift that is needed where instead of brute forcing everything like we do now. The priority instead becomes to work in harmony with nature and boost the natural processes, take advantage of those processes moreso. Because the amount of regulators that would be required to enforce that every step of fish production was being done sustainably would be insane! And that's just fish! Not to mention every other industry.
Yeah, until the attitudes shift toward being sustainable as no 1, I don't see it changing. And it seems to me, it often ends up being the cheapest route! Why do XYZ when nature will do it for you if you just encourage it!
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Not to mention, the fact that the younger generation is continuing to farm is actually a big deal. One of my best friends in school, his dad was a crop and dairy farmer, but he became a banker and his brother a nuclear plant technician. Of the other farming families I grew up around I don't know any who were in my class that are still there farming. Quite sad. But I actually get it.
As for the sustainability, regulation and such will help, but boy-o it's really a paradigm shift that is needed where instead of brute forcing everything like we do now. The priority instead becomes to work in harmony with nature and boost the natural processes, take advantage of those processes moreso. Because the amount of regulators that would be required to enforce that every step of fish production was being done sustainably would be insane! And that's just fish! Not to mention every other industry.
Yeah, until the attitudes shift toward being sustainable as no 1, I don't see it changing. And it seems to me, it often ends up being the cheapest route! Why do XYZ when nature will do it for you if you just encourage it!
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Patricia
I used to love Atlantic Salmon sold here in the U. S, until I found out they have to be fed an additive to give their flesh the salmon color. If they didn t do that, no one would eat them. Besides that, they are fed grains (soy, corn. They grow much bigger and fatter for their age. Unfortunately, grain fed fish produce more omega 6 fatty acids than omega 3. This is bad for the human health as it causes inflammation. When you buy wild caught salmon, it s much thinner and has far less fat, but it is healthy fat. The fatty farmed salmon is juicier but not good for you. Wild caught has better flavor but you have to be careful when you cook it otherwise it s dry. Ever since I saw the flesh of farmed salmon that had not been treated with additives for color I can not stomach it.
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I used to love Atlantic Salmon sold here in the U. S, until I found out they have to be fed an additive to give their flesh the salmon color. If they didn t do that, no one would eat them. Besides that, they are fed grains (soy, corn. They grow much bigger and fatter for their age. Unfortunately, grain fed fish produce more omega 6 fatty acids than omega 3. This is bad for the human health as it causes inflammation. When you buy wild caught salmon, it s much thinner and has far less fat, but it is healthy fat. The fatty farmed salmon is juicier but not good for you. Wild caught has better flavor but you have to be careful when you cook it otherwise it s dry. Ever since I saw the flesh of farmed salmon that had not been treated with additives for color I can not stomach it.
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Jennifer
I actually cooked your tilapia-and-cauliflower-rice pot today for the first time! I bought my tilapia at Kroger (Atlanta) and all I can find was from China. This video was so timely because I was actually remembering what you were saying but couldn't remember the website. Thank you so much for all of the useful knowledge you share - I truly think you are helping to save the planet and I hope you know how much you are appreciated!
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I actually cooked your tilapia-and-cauliflower-rice pot today for the first time! I bought my tilapia at Kroger (Atlanta) and all I can find was from China. This video was so timely because I was actually remembering what you were saying but couldn't remember the website. Thank you so much for all of the useful knowledge you share - I truly think you are helping to save the planet and I hope you know how much you are appreciated!
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tya04
Sorry, but I just had to comment when I heard the point at 0: 21 that there are only so many fish in the sea. In Michigan, we have that same problem with deer. Hunters shoot them, and they never repopulate and run across roads. If I was God, I would design my creation to reproduce and naturally want to consume what's best for its biology. And I'd make humans less dependent on centralized utility grids.
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Sorry, but I just had to comment when I heard the point at 0: 21 that there are only so many fish in the sea. In Michigan, we have that same problem with deer. Hunters shoot them, and they never repopulate and run across roads. If I was God, I would design my creation to reproduce and naturally want to consume what's best for its biology. And I'd make humans less dependent on centralized utility grids.
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Tinna
Hey, remember when half of Europe got the runs because of farmed Norwegian shellfish that was sitting right in the sewage stream from a major city?
I think I remember that happening, but as I try to google it, I'm starting to think I have some or all of the details wrong in my brain. Maybe it was a movie plot? Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
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Hey, remember when half of Europe got the runs because of farmed Norwegian shellfish that was sitting right in the sewage stream from a major city?
I think I remember that happening, but as I try to google it, I'm starting to think I have some or all of the details wrong in my brain. Maybe it was a movie plot? Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
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Beaumont
This was a great episode. I would love to see you do one on Black Soldier Fly larvae and their sustainable applications. Sacramento built a huge Soldier Fly organic waste disposal system a few years back and they even make energy while the larvae get rid of the waste. Super sustainable stuff. very cool. It might give you an excuse to visit California too.
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This was a great episode. I would love to see you do one on Black Soldier Fly larvae and their sustainable applications. Sacramento built a huge Soldier Fly organic waste disposal system a few years back and they even make energy while the larvae get rid of the waste. Super sustainable stuff. very cool. It might give you an excuse to visit California too.
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Kayden
I generally won t eat farmed salmon unless I know exactly which farm/type it comes from. So far, the only brand available to me that meets my standards from the researched I ve done, is American Gold Seafood. Sold in 3lb bags at Costco, where the fish are at 1/3 to 1/2 of the typical stocking density allowing no pesticides/antibiotics to be used.
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I generally won t eat farmed salmon unless I know exactly which farm/type it comes from. So far, the only brand available to me that meets my standards from the researched I ve done, is American Gold Seafood. Sold in 3lb bags at Costco, where the fish are at 1/3 to 1/2 of the typical stocking density allowing no pesticides/antibiotics to be used.
reply
Josh
Dear Adam: you ought to know that you re an integral part of my family s nighttime routine. What happens when my dad and I are home from work/school? We sit downstairs and watch your video every. single NIGHT! It reminds me of doing a similar ritual with my siblings (who all moved out years ago, which is quite therapeutic. Thanks!
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Dear Adam: you ought to know that you re an integral part of my family s nighttime routine. What happens when my dad and I are home from work/school? We sit downstairs and watch your video every. single NIGHT! It reminds me of doing a similar ritual with my siblings (who all moved out years ago, which is quite therapeutic. Thanks!
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