Wild fish vs. farmed fish: which is better for you?

You're at the fish department and see different types of salmon lying around. One is more expensive than the other, and you wonder: just what is the difference between wild and farmed fish? And which one is better for your health? We like to list it for you.

What is farmed fish?

Farmed fish grow up in fish farms in large tanks or enclosed nets in the sea where thousands of fish sit together. Here they are fed artificial feed until they are big enough to sell. It's basically the intensive animal husbandry of the fish world.

Almost all the salmon, trout and tilapia you buy in the supermarket come from such a farm. These fish are available year-round because fish farmers can control exactly when they harvest. Controlled conditions also allow them to produce large quantities at low cost.

And what is (and counts as) wild fish?

Wild fish live their entire lives freely in oceans, lakes or rivers. They swim where they want and eat what nature provides: algae, small fish, crustaceans and other natural foods. Think of wild salmon swimming thousands of miles to spawn, or mackerel migrating in schools through the North Sea.

These fish are caught during the natural season, when they are at their best. Because of their natural lifestyle, they have developed stronger muscles and a more intense flavor. Their flesh is often firmer because they have had to swim all their lives against currents and tides.

Pros and cons: what do you choose when?

What are the pros and cons of wild fish and farmed fish? There are arguments to be made for both. In particular, it depends on what is important to you. Below we list them briefly.

Farmed fish

• Advantages of farmed fish: farmed fish is inexpensive and always available. For people on a limited budget, it can be an affordable way to still eat fish. Modern farms are also starting to operate cleaner and more sustainable. Although it is not yet at the desired level and scale we would like to see.
• Disadvantages of farmed fish: farmed fish contain less omega-3 fatty acids and more saturated fats. Due to artificial feed and drugs, the quality is lower. The environmental impact of many fish farms is also still problematic due to pollution and escape risks.

Wild fish

• Wild fish benefits: wild fish wins on almost all fronts when you look at nutritional value. Because of their natural diet of algae and small fish, they contain more omega-3 fatty acids and no artificial dyes, antibiotics or growth hormones. The taste is often more intense, just try the difference between wild salmon and farmed salmon. They also tend to contain less saturated fat and just more protein. 
• Disadvantages of wild fish: the biggest disadvantages are price and availability. Wild fish can be two to three times more expensive than farmed fish. Also, not every wild fish is sustainably caught; overfishing is a real problem for some species.

Arctic Blue uses only wild fish for supplements

At Arctic Blue, we make a conscious choice to use wild fish from sustainable sources. Why? Because we believe that nature provides the best omega-3 profile. Our wild fish comes from clean waters and contains no artificial additives. You'll notice this difference in quality in our supplements. No unnecessary ingredients and only the highest quality DHA and EPA nutrients.