Salmon canapés with crème fraîche, caviar and dill.
Salmon aquaculture is the farming of salmon in human-controlled environments, which can be contrasted with fishing practices that harvest salmon in the wild. Practices used in salmon aquaculture can vary, but the most common methods involve hatching salmon and keeping them in sea cages that prevent the fish from swimming away. Less frequently, fish may spawn and be released into the wild with the intention of increasing the total number of available fish. There are many concerns about the negative effects of salmon aquaculture on wild fish populations as well as the marine environments in which farming takes place.
Salmon is commonly raised through aquaculture.
The methods used to raise salmon generally involve raising a selected population of fish. The eggs and sperm are collected from well-stocked salmon and fertilized in controlled environments. The hatchlings resulting from this breeding program are typically reared in freshwater tanks for several months until they are mature enough for sea cages. Juvenile salmon typically live in these freshwater tanks for a year or more before being moved to saltwater.
Sushi made with salmon.
One of the most important innovations in salmon aquaculture was the invention of the floating sea cage. These cages prevent fish from escaping, but they must be placed in calm bays and protected from storms to work properly. This makes countries like Norway and Chile particularly popular for salmon aquaculture, as suitable marine areas are common in these countries.
Salmon.
During their life in sea cages, salmon must be fed fish food made from other fish because salmon are carnivores. Salmon are kept in sea cages for one to two years and then harvested with nets. Fish are normally killed where they are raised, unlike the practices in many other animal husbandry operations. There are no salmon slaughterhouses, which means that companies involved in salmon aquaculture must also be able to safely and effectively harvest fish for human consumption. Fish are usually killed quickly and humanely, both for the benefit of the fish and because fish release hormones when stressed that lower the quality of their meat.
Salmon fillets are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
However, some groups are only involved in the hatchery part of salmon aquaculture. These groups believe that by hatching and releasing the fish into rivers, the natural population of wild salmon can be at least partially restored. In general, this is not a very good business plan for companies, since anyone can fish for salmon, which reduces the chances of making a profit. For groups that care not only about profits but also about environmental health, this salmon farming method offers the positive impact of a healthy salmon population without many of the negative environmental effects of salmon farming.