The ocean running out of fish is of growing concern and awareness. Concern about the sustainability of natural fish populations has led many people to choose farm-raised fish. However, fish farming practices creates its own environmental concerns that need to be addressed.

The most popular fish species in the world is Salmon. Knowing what you are getting when you buy Salmon, and how the fish was raised, has been a problem because no standards previously existed. However, six years of effort by groups including the World Wildlife Fund,  to create such standards is near completion with a proposal in draft format.

Farm-raised Salmon is grown in pens or cages, which are placed in sheltered bays or coves. The large floating mesh cages hold the salmon while remaining open to the marine environment. This is harmful in a number of ways.

The primary ways salmon farming damages the environment are related to excess waste and the supply of food necessary to sustain it. Excess food, fish feces and chemicals can disturb the balance of life on the ocean bottom. Food and waste cause an increase in algae growth, which deplete the water of oxygen other plants and animals depend on.

While most people believe they are reducing the need for fishing by choosing farm-raised salmon, the World Wildlife Fund states 1/3 of the global fish harvest goes to produce fish meal and oil for farmed salmon.

The goal of the World Wildlife Fund’s proposal is to achieve a framework of communication between stakeholders to enable sharing of environmental data. The stakeholders include environmental groups, representatives from the fish farming industry and the fish meal supply industry. Sharing information will hopefully allow the development of a solution that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

The proposal will be in draft format until Oct. 3 and is open to public comment.  You can click here to review the document and leave a comment.