 | United States Salmon Farming News |
The Debate About Wild Versus Farmed Salmon Continues
Read what the Petaluma Argus Courier has to say.
Free or Farmed, When Is a Fish Really Organic?
What Makes a Salmon Organic?
National Organics Standards Board Meets to Discuss Standards for Organic Aquaculture
On October 18, 2006 the Pure Salmon Campaign submitted oral and written comments to the National Organic Standards Board's on its aquaculture standards, stating that, "The Pure Salmon Campaign believes that the production of carnivorous finfish in open net cages is inconsistent with "organic" production on several fronts."
Americans Leery Of Potential USDA Organic Label For Farmed Seafood
According to a recent survey by the Pure Salmon Campaign, six in 10 respondents said that they would not expect farmed fish with the "USDA Organic" label to contain contaminants or be farmed in such a way that is harmful to marine wildlife and not allow fish to follow their natural behavior. Those with lower household incomes were more likely to be unsure than respondents with incomes of more than $25K.
Did you know this . . . . Organic seafood, there's no such thing!
Food editor Phil Lempert of the 'Today' show on NBC tells you what you need to know about fish.
FTC Petition Slams Salmon Ad Promoting Unsafe Food to Pregnant Women
In December 2006, the Pure Salmon Campaign filed a truth-in-advertising complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the trade association of farmed salmon producers for deceptive advertising that appeared in The New York Times Magazine encouraging pregnant women to eat chemical laden farm-raised salmon.
The six-page ad, paid for by the trade association Salmon of the Americas (SOTA), made extensive claims about the health benefits of farmed salmon for pregnant women and their babies. The ad proclaims "Ocean-Farmed Salmon — just what the doctor ordered" under a picture of a pregnant woman.
Pure Salmon submitted a petition asking the FTC to stop SOTA from using false and misleading information in their ads and has dozens of scientific studies cited to support its claim, including a peer-reviewed paper published just last year in the Journal of Nutrition.
This study was a follow-up to the ground-breaking January 2004 study of toxins in farm-raised salmon in the journal Science. The Journal of Nutrition study found that women of childbearing age, expectant and nursing mothers, and young children should minimize their consumption of farm-raised salmon in favor of other sources of omega-3 fats.
In February 2007, the FTC released its deliberations on the petition. In a rare gesture, the commission announced it had opened a formal law enforcement investigation to look into the petition. As a result, the industry group has agreed to institute a stricter advertising review policy to prevent deceptive advertising in the future.
Salmon of the Americas ad is enough to make you sick!
For more on Health and Contaminants:
Norwegian Government Scientist Points Out Problems with Salmon Feed at Costco Annual Meeting
At Costco's annual general meeting, Pure Salmon and a Norwegian government scientist discuss their concerns about one of the local retail giant's most popular products — farmed salmon.
Costco is one of the largest purveyors of farmed salmon in the United States. Most of the farmed salmon Costco sells comes from Norwegian-based companies, which dominate the industry.
Cadmium was found in Norwegian farmed salmon feed as far back as April 2005, according to the World Trade Organization. This discovery prompted the Canadian government to destroy the contaminated feed shipments. Furthermore, late last year, Russian authorities placed a temporary ban on the import of Norwegian farmed salmon, citing high levels of cadmium and lead.
Separately, Norwegian authorities disclosed they had found nitrites in smoked salmon. Nitrites are banned for use in food products as it reacts with amines in foodstuffs and transforms into carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrites stabilize food color and influence taste.
More than 30 Scientists from Around the World Express Concern About Current Farming Methods
At the same time, the Pure Salmon Campaign will release a statement signed by more than thirty U.S., European, Canadian, and other international scientists communicating their concerns about the salmon aquaculture industry.
White House says "No" to Farmed Salmon This Holiday Season
"Boston Legal" Features the Problem of Sea Lice in British Columbia
You saw it on Boston Legal, now get the science behind the ugly parasitic problem that is plaguing salmon all over the world. Salmon farms with open cages of densely packed salmon are a breeding ground for parasitic sea lice. Schools of sea lice spread out around salmon farms and infect wild juvenile salmon as they pass by the perimeters of the farms.
Sea lice feed on the mucus, scales, and blood of the host fish and can be fatal to salmon, especially to the young fish that are more vulnerable because of their size. For more, read what scientists have to say about sea lice and the other environmental problems associated with salmon aquaculture. Or, view a video clip of an expert putting the problem in human terms ("...it would be the same as you having a fifty-pound lice chewing through your back.") [.mov, 2.8 megs]
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