Do you ever think about where your food comes from? If the origin of the salmon filet you’re preparing for dinner is top-of-mind when you buy it, you’re likely among the 60% of people who classify themselves as conscious consumers.
You care about where your food comes from and how it gets to you, and you’re making decisions about what and how you buy based on those factors.
Conscious consumerism plays a big role in many peoples’ trips to the supermarket, and nowhere is it more necessary than the meat department.
Specifically, it’s important to be a discerning buyer when it comes to fish. The difference between fresh-caught wild and farm-raised, captive fish is worth consideration—and it’s important to practice conscious consumerism as you vote with your wallet.
Fresh-caught vs. Farm-raised Fish: What’s the Difference?
The difference between fresh-caught and farm-raised fish is easy enough to decipher. The former is caught out in the wild, in its natural habitat.
The latter is human-raised in an aquatic farming environment, with conditions that vary in terms of humane and ethical treatment. Already, it’s easy to see why conscious consumerism is important.
Most conscious consumers are already aware of the multitude of ethical violations involved in factory farming—the beef industry is rife with them. Arguably, these same concerns are evident in any environment designed to breed animals for consumption.
Case in point: farm-raised fish. And while proponents of factory farming will argue the semantics of mammalian intelligence vs. fish cognition, it all comes back to the idea that every creature deserves to live a free and happy life.
This isn’t to say that every aquaculture or fish farm is an ethical violator. Many are, in fact, extremely humane and sustainable, forgoing the use of hormones, antibiotics, chemicals, or additives. Here, fish are also raised in humane conditions and treated with care and respect.
That said, as is the case for any animal food product, sustainable raising is only a viable substitute for when wild-caught isn’t an option.
Check out this short, informative video by Institute of Food Technologists – IFT for on how wild-caught and farm-raised fish differ:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcf99OMKeDI[/embedyt]
Why Buy Wild-caught Fish?
Ethical and humane treatment concerns aside, there are so many reasons to buy wild-caught fish.
While products sourced from fish farms and aquacultures may appear the same in a supermarket display case, the benefits of wild-caught fish make themselves evident long after you’ve prepared, eaten, and digested your meal:
- Farm fish tend to be fattier due to their living conditions and heavily modulated diet. You’re likely to notice a fattier texture in farm-raised fish, whether buying whole or filets. Moreover, this higher fat content can change the way the meat looks and feels, often giving it a softer texture and duller coloring.
- Ocean-caught fish are far less likely to be exposed to the pollutants and contaminants that farm-raised fish are, simply by nature of proximity. Hatcheries and fish farms are nearer to civilization, exposing them to carbon pollution, runoff contamination, microbial factors, and more. When it comes to wild fish, the ocean is a vast and dilutive place.
- Fish are a vital source of vitamins and nutrients, including omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. And while farm-raised fish often exhibit higher levels, they don’t exhibit the same ratios as wild-caught fish. Farm-raised fish tend to have a 2:1 ratio of omega-3 to -6, while wild-caught skew toward a 10:1 ratio, for a better balance of omega fatty acid intake.
Under the right conditions, farm-raised fish can achieve many of the same healthy nutritional values as their wild-caught counterparts.
However, there are still tremendous benefits to choosing wild-caught. Always on the move, wild-caught fish are leaner and healthier. They also benefit from a more diverse diet in their natural ecosystem.
They’re even more appealing to look at—consider the reddish-pink hue of fresh-caught salmon, as opposed to the orange tone of farm-raised fish.
For many, even beyond these factors, it goes back to conscious consumerism and, in many cases, ethical consumerism. People feel better when they’re buying food that’s from the wild, as nature intended.
Buying Wild-caught is Difficult
Today, about half of the fish we buy is farm-raised. It might surprise you to learn that as much as 75% of fish found in their local supermarket is farm-raised. Moreover, the other 25% of fish aren’t necessarily wild-caught.
The muddled distinction between terms like “fresh-caught,” “wild-caught” and “sustainably fished” can leave conscious consumers wondering where, exactly, their fish comes from.
As a general rule of thumb, fish purchased in a grocery store is almost never wild-caught. It can’t be – the supply chain logistics involved simply don’t make sense for grocery chains.
Fishing Alaskan Sockeye Salmon and transporting it through a cold supply chain to a supermarket in Tennessee costs significantly more than trucking in Atlantic Salmon from aquaculture within the state itself. These fish often bear designations like “hormone and antibiotic-free” to lure in conscious buyers.
The best way to get your hands on fish that’s truly wild-caught is to buy from a fishmonger or wet market. This is easy for coastal consumers as both the East and West Coasts are rife with seaports that sell fish right off the boat.
For landlocked consumers, it, unfortunately, means paying a premium for fresh fish transported via a cold supply chain. In either case, look specifically for “wild-caught” designations, which are specific to fish caught in the wild and certifications that ensure it was fished sustainably.
There’s also the country of origin to consider, which can shed light on where and how the fish came to be packaged. When buying fish, look at the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), which is required on all seafood sold in the United States. This can yield information, in varying degrees, that indicate the source, such as “Product of Chile” or “Wild-Caught in Canada.”
Which Dish Should Conscious Consumers Buy?
The type of seafood you choose to buy also dictates how easy (or difficult) it is to come by fresh, wild-caught options:
- In landlocked areas, wild-caught freshwater fish are easier to come by than ocean fish. The opposite is often true of coastal areas.
- Greenpeace keeps a seafood Red List, designating over-fished or endangered fish that conscious consumers should avoid.
- Fish with different varieties, like Salmon (Coho, Sockeye, Atlantic, etc.), tend to have one main wild-caught variety available in conventional grocery stores, with the rest being farmed.
- Exotic fish or those found in distinct areas of the world are rarely fresh-caught, as they need to travel significant distances to reach consumers.
When shopping for fish as a conscious consumer, it’s often best to adopt a quality-over-quantity mindset.
Fish are a premier source of essential daily nutrition, including Vitamin E and Vitamin D, Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, potassium, and more.
It’s also a lean protein, packing more benefits into fewer calories. Fish is among the best source of animal protein you can consume and is widely regarded as one of the most nutritious non-plant foods.
Simply put: buying wild-caught fish will be more expensive and more difficult, but it’s well worth the endeavor.
The food itself will be nutritious and delicious, and the mindset that comes from an ethical, sustainable, conscious choice to buy wild-caught only adds to the contentment you’ll experience.
Wild-caught is Only the Beginning
If you’re like many people, your concern for where your food comes from stems from wanting to be a better consumer.
You don’t want to support factory farming or inhumane and unethical treatment of animals. You do want to support sustainable practices that are good for people, animals, and the earth.
As a result, you’re more inclined to make purchases based on the origin of your food—in this case, whether fish come from a farm or the wild. That said, it is important to consider how sustainable and ethical the origin of your wild-caught fish is.
One way to do this is to look for sources that clearly state where their fish comes from and how they’re supporting sustainable fishing practices. Certifications from bodies like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are a good way to see if your fish is coming from a verifiably sustainable source.
This mindset offers a great stepping stone into other realms of conscious consumerism. Getting into the habit of buying only wild-caught fish expands into buying only locally-grown vegetables or humanely sourced eggs. These decisions have ripple effects not only for you as a consumer, but for the industry bringing you these food products.
Final Thoughts on Conscious Fish Consumption
When you can prepare a meal with peace of mind, it’s a sign you’re doing your part to force a shift toward more sustainable practices.
Whether you’re a staunch consumer of only sustainable foods or only just dipping your toe into the waters of conscious consumerism, fish is one of the best foods to focus on.
There’s a clear line between farm-raised and fresh-caught, and holding yourself to a higher standard when it comes to the fish you buy will empower you to make better decisions throughout the grocery store.
References and Resources
The Business Journals: A Look at the Growing Trend of Conscious Consumerism.
The Healthy Fish: Understanding the Practice of Ethical Aquacultures.
Colorado State University: Profile on Wild-Caught vs. Farm-Raised Fish.
Greenpeace: Current Sustainable Seafood Red List for Fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ethical Consumerism?
Ethical consumerism is the practice of being mindful of what you purchase, and choosing to purchase only products sourced ethically and responsibly. This includes opting to buy food that’s wild-caught or naturally raised, as opposed to produced under factory farming conditions for the sole purpose of consumption. Check out the full guide for more info on conscious and ethical fish consumption.
Why are Wild-Caught Fish Better?
Wild-caught fish come from a natural habitat where they’re able to feed on a diverse diet, swim freely and contribute to the local ecosystem. These fish tend to have healthier balances of omega fatty acids, better nutritional profile, leaner (less fatty) meat, better coloring, and are free of pollutants commonly found in farm-raised fish. Check out the full guide for more info on the benefits of wild-caught fish.
How to Buy Wild Caught Fish?
Buying wild-caught fish can be difficult at a local supermarket. For coastal residents, the best option is a fishmonger or wet market, such as those found at a seaport. For landlocked consumers, freshwater fish are easier to come by. Check labels and be sure to look for seafood specifically labeled as wild-caught. Check out the full guide for more info.
