In 2024, the farmed salmon industry is experiencing hyper-growth on a global scale. Its effects on biodiversity and human health are devastating.
The Environmental and Resource Strains of Salmon Farming
Three million tonnes produced by 2021, equivalent to the farming and slaughter of 600 million salmon. Farmed salmon involves raising these fish on fish farms. This involves three stages. The fish are born in hatcheries, then grow in nurseries. They are then transferred to moored or floating pens close to the coast. According to the French NGO Seastemik, in a report published on 7 May: “Sea cage farming is a model identical to intensive chicken and pig farming, but based at sea […]”. Today, the salmon consumed in Europe is mainly produced in Norway, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland. 96% of the world market comes from this method, used by a handful of multinationals including the leader MOWI, formerly Marine Harvest.
While the ecological impact of the practice varies according to local production methods and conditions, it certainly has negative effects on the environment. First and foremost, there is a certain amount of water pollution caused by the substances and waste used on fish farms. Pesticides and excrement generated by fish farming contaminate coastal waters. More than 300 million microplastic particles are discharged into ocean every year by aquaculture worldwide. Biodiversity is systematically affected. This impacts not only fish and shellfish populations, but also the habitat itself, permanently modifying local ecosystems.
Pollution is not the only harmful phenomenon amplified by salmon farming. A major problem at the heart of the process, fish farms require large quantities of water, feed and energy. All this leads to excessive consumption of natural resources. A farm producing 10,000 tonnes of salmon consumes 100,000 MWh every year, the equivalent of a town with a population of 39,000. The fishmeal they are fed also contributes to the over-fishing of marine species, including Peruvian anchovies. What’s more, a large proportion of the cereals they eat is taken out of the human market. For example, 76% of the world’s soya production is used to feed farm animals, compared with 20% for human consumption.
Consumers’ health sacrificed on the altar of profit
“Salmo salar”, the Atlantic salmon, is the perfect farmed specie. The industry’s communication around this fish is particularly sophisticated. Its pink colour, boneless flesh and high Omega-3 content make it a prime marketing symbol. All this despite many toxic elements contained in its flesh. Fish and other seafood account for up to 86% of dietary exposure to persistent pollutants (PFAS and PCBs) in adults. Salmon is one of the species whose flesh contains the most.
The salmon farming industry is doing its best to hide its health impact by using greenwashing techniques such as eco-labels. For consumers, the strong promotion of Omega-3 content gives the illusion of healthy products. “Today, it is unjustifiable to allow this industry to continue to produce salmon that does not meet any need – either in terms of global food safety or human health […]” according to Seastemik.
