Wild vs. Farm Raised: Which is Better?

In most scenarios, wild fisheries are typically better for the environment than farm-raised products. However, there is a pretty big caveat with this statement. Wild products that are imported from overseas are difficult to evaluate from an environmental and social perspective. There’s just so much ambiguity and unknown with imported products. With less regulation on labor rights and stock assessments, it can be risky supporting some of these fisheries without fully understanding where the product is coming from. Unless you know and trust the farm a product is coming from, avoid buying imported, farm raised products.

"Unless you know and trust the farm a product is coming from, avoid buying imported, farm raised products."

Farm raised products are typically criticized due to the negative impacts they can have on the environment around them when improperly managed. Atlantic salmon farms for example have been known to destroy the environments around them if they are in shallow water, with little water movement, and highly concentrated. This leads to silty water and unhealthy habitat for the salmon to live in. How can a consumer decide whether their salmon comes from one of the “good farms”? It’s super hard know, which is why most just make a blanket statement of, “don’t eat farm-raised salmon”.

"Farm-raised bi-valves like oysters, mussels and clams are actually amazing for the ocean as they continuously filter the water."

Deep water finfish production and farm-raised bi-valves can be produced in ways that minimize negative environmental impact and actually provide value to their environment. Farm-raised bi-valves like oysters, mussels and clams are actually amazing for the ocean as they continuously filter the water.

Wild-caught seafood is not cheap. Just like buying apparel from a company that ensures fair wages for workers, environmental materials, and superior quality, these processes are not cheap. Just as you should question jeans made abroad that sell for only $5.99, you should question a fillet that’s travelled across to world to get to your market for $5.99/lb. Guilt-free seafood comes at a premium, so how much are you willing to pay to not need to turn a blind eye.

If you want to find guilt-free seafood delivered right to your doorstep, E-Fish.com is the place. Reach out by email if you have any questions about the products sold on our website, we will be happy to tell you the story behind each and every product.