Farmed salmon is BC's largest Agri Product and a significant contributor to our local economies.
Farmed salmon is raised naturally. That means no hormones or genetic modification to enhance growth.
Medications are never used preventatively or near harvest time.
We take steps to reduce stress on our fish.
In the Pacific Northwest, Atlantic salmon have not taken over rivers forcing out native salmon.
Salmon are incredibly efficient eaters.
Salmon farms employ thousands of workers in BC's coastal region.
Farmed salmon is the only way we can get fresh salmon year round.
Farmed salmon is a healthy food choice that's available fresh all year round.
Salmon farming is the most regulated agricultural industry in British Columbia.
Salmon farm locations are selected for their low environmental impact.
Atlantic salmon and sockeye salmon differ in colour because they're different species.
Farmed salmon are vaccinated to prevent disease and rarely need additional medications.
We don't dye farmed salmon. The colour comes from an important ingredient in their food.
Farmed salmon are rich in heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
Farmers work to protect wild salmon from sea lice.
Salmon farming provides real economic and social benefits to First Nations people.
Salmon feed is designed specifically to conserve wild fish stocks.
Farmers work with scientists to maintain fish health.
Farmed salmon are mistreated and are raised in a stressful environment.
Farmed salmon is genetically modified and contains growth hormones.
Salmon farms can be located anywhere, even in environmentally sensitive areas.
Salmon farm information is highly guarded and not available to the public.
Farmed salmon is bad for you.
Sea lice come from farmed salmon and devastate wild salmon stocks.
Farmed salmon consume more food in order to grow than the amount of food they produce for human consumption.
Farmed salmon contain medicines that are harmful for human consumption.
Salmon farmers can do whatever they want and routinely ignore loose government regulations.
Escaped farmed salmon take over local river systems forcing out native wild salmon.
There are no nutritional benefits realized from eating farmed salmon.
The process of salmon farming severely depletes wild fish stocks.
5 Comments
BC Salmon Facts says
Hi Randy, thanks for the question. As the discussion on this site ranges from salmon aquaculture to the interactions of farm-raised, hatchery, ranched, wild-caught and wild salmon, we feel BC Salmon Facts is fair representation.
Nov 14 2011 4:49 PM
Randy Klein says
Why do you call it B.C. salmon facts? Shouldn't it be called B.C. farmed salmon facts? I think it's a little fishy.
Nov 11 2011 9:01 AM
BC Salmon Facts says
Hi Billy, we test our farmed salmon regularly for their nutritional values. Recent tests show that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is about 1:2. That means there is twice as much healthy Omega-3 in our fish as Omega-6. The typical North American diet contains a ratio of up to 20:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3, so our salmon is a healthy source of Omega-3 and offers a very healthy ratio between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. There have been several studies on this topic and the ratios in wild fish samples can vary, but the studies we have seen suggest that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 levels is lower in farmed salmon than in wild salmon.
Feb 28 2011 4:51 PM
Billy C. says
I heard that the Omega-6 levels of farmed salmon are unusually higher than say, the Omega-6 levels found in wild salmon.
There are suggestions that high levels of Omega-6 intake are associated with a number of diseases and depression.
Is it true the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 levels in farmed salmon are much higher than those of wild salmon?
Feb 26 2011 6:52 PM