Salmon: Farmed (Closed Containment)

Coho Salmon, Silver Salmon

Sake, Ikura (roe)

Freshwater coho raised in closed containment land based aquaculture systems has recently been recognized as a “Best Choice”. There is virtually no risk of escape in these land based tank systems and effluent water is treated prior to discharge. The spread of disease and parasites to wild salmon stocks is also avoided. A significant portion of the feed is derived from plant protein, which has greatly reduced the dependence on wild fish in the feed.

Consumers beware: The vast majority of farmed salmon comes from open net pens and is ranked as “Avoid”.

The amount of wild fish used in the feed is lower for this land based farm than typical net pen operations resulting in a 1.2:1 ratio of wild fish in feed to farmed fish produced. The source of wild fish is mixed which also raises a management caution.

Due to the closed nature of tank-based freshwater coho salmon production and the robust physical barriers that effectively
prevent escapes, the risk posed to wild stocks is low.

Aquaculture in tanks carries a low risk of escapes and allows the opportunity to treat effluents, so the risk of spreading disease from farmed fish to wild stocks is low. The separation between wild and farmed fish also prevents sea lice transfer that can harm wild salmon stocks.

Regulatory requirements for siting and waste management
practices (settling ponds and filtration) make this operation a low risk for pollution or habitat effects.

Federal and state regulations regarding pollution, biosecurity, and drug and chemical use are in place and enforced. Extensive better management practices have been adopted by DomSea/SweetSpring, who dominate production at this time. The farm effectively controls for disease, and chemical use is minimal.

What kind of farmed salmon is this?

Only freshwater coho raised in closed containment systems rank as a “Best Choice”. All other farmed salmon should be avoided.

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