The demand for salmon has certainly increased, leading to a boom in salmon farming. The rising popularity of this inexpensive, commonly dined upon fish appears be taking a negative toll on wild salmon populations.
Wild baby salmon, known as smolts, are being infected with sea lice at rates almost 75 times higher than normal while passing through commercial salmon farms on their way to the ocean. Sea lice are parasites that eat away at the skin, blood and flesh of salmon. Antibiotics are used to ward off these pests, which infest salmon farm pens that can hold tens of thousands of fish. Because smolts are at a vulnerable stage in their development, being infected with sea lice can ultimately lead to their premature death.
The Smolts' Migration Route
Researchers sampled the number of sea lice on the smolts every mile or two along their 60-mile migration route to the ocean; along their route, the wild baby salmon pass by large salmon farms. Large-scale farms associated with the increased sea lice infections and declines in adjacent wild populations are found in locations such as:
Researchers noted that before reaching the salmon farms, there was no sign of lice on the smolts, yet after passing through, the fish were populated with the pests. Salmon farmers disagree with such findings, claming they haven't seen any evidence of high occurrences of sea lice around their farms that have led to complications with wild salmon.
Regardless, a proposed solution to the lice problem is to shift the salmon farms to closed systems in the ocean where the smolts will be free from exposure to this deadly lice infection.
USA Today March 31, 2005
This study is further proof that modern technology has transformed fish--in the past one of the healthiest foods you could eat--into a potentially dangerous food source. Most people believe that farmed salmon is healthier than wild salmon but nothing could be further from the truth as they have at least 10 times more cancer-causing persistent organic pollutants than their wild counterparts. Sadly, these pollutants are now infesting wild salmon at an alarming rate.
These findings are not a surprise, however, as I first warned against the health risks associated with farmed salmon back in 2001.
Many people do not understand that farmed fish face many of the same health issues as factory-farmed animals. In order to be profitable, fish farms must raise large quantities of fish in confined areas, and the overcrowding leads to disease and injuries to the fish. What's more, farmed salmon are tainted with:
Antibiotics and chemicals to fend off parasites like sea lice (as well as skin and gill infections and other diseases) that commonly affect them
Drugs and hormones to accelerate growth and change reproductive behaviors
So, unless you can verify that the salmon you purchase has been lab-tested and found to be free of contaminants, you are probably better off avoiding it. When you visit your supermarket, ask the fish handlers where the fish comes from. They may contact the manufacturer for you, otherwise contact them on your own and ask if their fish has been tested for pollutants (such as mercury and PCBs).
A Safe Salmon Source
Good news: After searching for a safe source of salmon you can eat without having to worry about pollutants and toxins I found Vital Choice Alaskan Wild Red Salmon.
This source is superior to all others because the salmon are sustained and harvested by a native Alaskan tribe to ensure the success of the species. After hatching, the Alaskan salmon swim upstream to pure, fresh water lakes where they feed and grow for one to three years before swimming out to the Bering Sea.
Working closely with the tribe, Vital Choice takes all measures to ensure the salmon are sustainably harvested during their migration.
The Vital Choice salmon--unlike the low-grade (and toxic) salmon you will find in most stores--is "flash-frozen," an advanced and completely safe technique that immediately captures the fresh-caught flavor of the salmon while preserving its firm texture and rich color. The canned salmon, meanwhile, is also immediately packaged using advanced techniques that require absolutely no freezing, ensuring its freshness and fantastic taste. And the best part of all: the salmon contains very high levels of beneficial omega-3 with DHA and EPA.
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