Wild-Caught Fish or Farm-Raised Fish?
As the world witnesses another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on land-based economies has been a central focal point, but effects on ocean-based economies and aquatic food systems have not gained as much attention. In fact, recent research indicates that the seafood industry has been remarkably hard hit by the virus due to travel restrictions and mandatory closures of food and hotel industries. As these effects reverberate throughout food systems globally, understanding them requires the importance of “sustainable” seafood to the diets of consumers and income for small-scale fishers throughout the world, as well as the health and resilience of aquatic ecosystems.
While prices for fresh fish have hit rock bottom over the past year, the ensuing popularity for chilled and frozen seafood has risen across the United States as western consumers have settled into routines that involve a lot more home cooking. Additionally, an increased attitude toward health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to a healthier shopping cart whereby consumers have shifted their preferences to more nutritious, environmentally sustainable meals. Nevertheless, with a greater focus on nutrition and immunity-boosting supplements, it seems as if the seafood industry will regain its momentum in a post-COVID world as consumers’ perspectives on the dietary role of fish continue to shift.
However, when going to the grocery store there are many things to consider when purchasing seafood during the pandemic — from cost, sustainability, food safety, and ethical issues — and it generally means falling down a wormhole of ranking systems and charts when considering which option to buy. While there are many ways to consume seafood, consumers looking to buy a healthy alternative to poultry or pork have an important decision to make when arriving at the grocery store. In particular: Wild-caught fish or farm-raised fish? With many factors to consider, let’s discuss the difference between the two types of fishing practices and their pros and cons.
Wild-Caught or Farm-Raised?
When it comes to fish, there can be a lot of conflicting information available as to which is better, farm-raised fish or fish caught in the wild? The seemingly complex controversy is often broken down into three main categories — environmental concerns, economic concerns and nutrition levels — which is hotly debated amongst scholars, traditional media and online. However, it is a common misperception that wild seafood is better for your health and the planet, while farm-raised seafood is harmful to the body and unsustainable. While there is some merit to this oversimplified view, the answer to this message is far from the truth and turns out to be a controversial question.
Wild-Caught Fish
For one thing, wild fish are caught in open waters (e.g., rivers, lakes, and oceans) and eat a natural diet making them a highly nutrient-dense food without any antibiotics or pesticides. Although the nutritional value in wild-caught fish is thought to be much higher than farm-raised fish, others argue that certain kinds of species have a heavy amount of metals (e.g., mercury) that can bioaccumulate in humans.
Moreover, today’s sustainable fishing practices that have been employed throughout the United States (e.g., spearfishing and netting) are utilized to maintain fish populations and prevent bycatch, further making them an environmentally safe method when catching different species. Yet, for what it’s worth, the advancement of technology has enabled many small-scale fishers to obtain a large amount of income at the expense of damaging the natural habitat through overfishing and loose enforcement policies.
Consider, for example, the Chilean seabass which became an extremely popular item across the United States in the 1990s. Typically caught by longlining, the Chilean seabass was notoriously overfished because of poorly enforced international agreements, leading to even higher prices and an even more significant incentive to fish illegally. While I do not take a strong position on this debate, it seems clear that the success of certain commercial fishing methods (e.g., longlining) can be an economic incentive for fishers; however, it leaves few species left in the ocean.
Farm-Raised Fish
Simply put, farm-raised fish (AKA aquaculture) are commercially grown species in various tanks, ponds or open water cages in the ocean until they reach market size. While some studies show that farmed fish may contain a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids, presumably due to the farm’s fortified feed, other studies posit that farm-raised fish are prone to disease and pumped with antibiotics which are unfortunately passed on to consumers.
On an environmental front, however, arguments put forward by major international organizations such as the World Bank have promoted aquaculture as a sustainable alternative to catching wild fish in order to rebuild endangered populations, replenish wild stocks and provide a sustainable source of income for coastal communities.
But, could it be possible that the efficiency of aquaculture has done more harm than good?
While fish farms show a tremendous promise in revamping the economy and preserving wildlife, it rests on the disingenuous notion that the goal is not conservation, but economic growth. For instance, recent findings suggest that as production methods grow more efficient, fish will become widely available and less expensive, further increasing demand across the board. Thus, according to this counterintuitive finding, the expansion of aquaculture will increase demand instead of decreasing it as one might expect.
Which One Do I Choose?
Of course, a key question is which fish should I choose? While many consumers mistakenly believe that wild-caught seafood is a premium product compared to its farm-raised alternative, the truth is that there are no correct answers here. Recently, there has been a general desire to simplify the health and wellness industry with a “good” versus “bad” view on any given product, so finding the best option is something that many people find difficult. While there are many bad practices with both fishing methods, both techniques can provide great-tasting, healthy sources of protein while supporting the economic well-being of many small-scale fishing communities if sourced the right way.
By all means, in order to stay in tip-top shape during COVID-19 and equally contribute to the health of the marine environment, it will be essential to ensure that your seafood purchases (whether it be wild-caught or farm-raised) are ethically and sustainably raised before you allow them on your dinner plate.
