While it may seem like a modern invention, “aquaculture,” has been around for ages—man has been “farming” fish in net enclosures, ponds, vats, urns, and even woven baskets for thousands of years.
More recently, though, especially within the last few decades, worldwide demand has exploded, and farming fish has grown just as rapidly, evolving into a multibillion-dollar industry.
This industry’s mission is to produce larger, cheaper fish evermore quickly to meet the insatiable demand for what once seemed a limitless and inexpensive source of protein and good fat.
The extraordinary growth of the fish farm business has brought with it a number of industrial farming problems that concern me enough to advise all my patients to avoid factory-farmed fish. While there are some fish farmers producing eco-friendly and healthy fish, these producers are the exception, not the rule, so unless you’re able to purchase fish from those types of purveyors (usually smaller-scale, artisanal, or boutique-style fish farms), here are five simple reasons to say no to farmed fish….