January 27, 2015 — Karimi has found that farmed and wild salmon are high in omega-3’s compared with shrimp, tuna and other fish, and they are generally very low in mercury, a particular concern for pregnant women and young children.
Q: Is eating farm-raised fish better than eating no fish?
A: Experts have raised concerns about farm-raised fish.
In some cases, the animals are raised on unnatural diets and crammed into small enclosures that can promote toxins and breed disease, prompting aquaculture operators to rely heavily on antibiotics.
But farming practices are improving, and consumers have a number of healthy and eco-friendly farmed options, said Tim Fitzgerald, a scientist and sustainable seafood expert at the Environmental Defense Fund. A few of the farmed varieties that are produced responsibly are also relatively high in omega-3 fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fats that promote cardiovascular health. They include arctic char, rainbow trout and oysters, he said.