You are standing at the fish counter and see different types of salmon. One is more expensive than the other, and you wonder: what is actually the difference between wild fish and farmed fish? And which is better for your health? We are happy to line it up for you.
What is farmed fish?
Farmed fish grows up in fish farms in large basins or enclosed nets in the sea where thousands of fish are kept together. Here they receive artificial feed until they are big enough to sell. It is basically the intensive livestock farming of the fish world.
Almost all salmon, trout and tilapia that you buy in the supermarket come from such a farm. This fish is available all year round because fish farmers can determine exactly when to harvest. Thanks to the controlled conditions, they can also produce large quantities at low costs.
And what is (and counts as) wild fish?
Wild fish lives its entire life free in oceans, lakes or rivers. They swim where they want and eat what nature offers them: algae, small fish, shellfish and other natural food. Think of wild salmon that swims thousands of kilometers to spawn, or mackerel that moves in schools through the North Sea.
These fish are caught during the natural season, when they are at their best. Due to their natural way of life, they have developed stronger muscles and a more intense flavor. Their flesh is often firmer because they have had to swim against currents and tides their whole life.
Advantages and disadvantages: what do you choose when?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wild fish and farmed fish? There are arguments for both. It mainly depends on what is important to you. We briefly outline them below.
Farmed fish
- Advantages of farmed fish: farmed fish is cheap and always available. For people on a limited budget, it can be an affordable way to still eat fish. Modern fish farms are also starting to work cleaner and more sustainably. Although it is not yet at the desired level and scale we would like to see.
- Disadvantages of farmed fish: farmed fish contains fewer omega-3 fatty acids and more saturated fats. Due to the artificial feed and the medication, the quality is lower. The environmental impact of many fish farms is also still problematic due to pollution and escape risks.
Wild fish
- Advantages of wild fish: wild fish wins on almost all fronts when you look at nutritional value. Thanks to their natural diet of algae and small fish, they contain more omega-3 fatty acids and no artificial colorants, antibiotics or growth hormones. The flavor is often more intense; just try the difference between wild salmon and farmed salmon. They also usually contain less saturated fat and actually more protein.
- Disadvantages of wild fish: the biggest disadvantages are the price and availability. Wild fish can be two to three times more expensive than farmed fish. Also, not every wild fish is caught sustainably; overfishing is a real problem for some species.
Arctic Blue only uses wild fish for supplements
At Arctic Blue we make a conscious choice for wild fish from sustainable sources. Why? Because we believe nature delivers the best omega-3 profile. Our wild fish comes from clean waters and contains no artificial additives. You will notice this difference in quality in our supplements. No unnecessary ingredients and only the highest quality DHA and EPA nutrients.
