Group wants labels for farmed fish

US - A coalition of environmental groups and chefs has launched a campaign aimed at scrutinizing proposed organic standards for the country's farm-raised fish.

The Pure Salmon Campaign, sponsored by the advocacy group National Environmental Trust, is pressing the Department of Agriculture, which is drawing up the new standards.

The government is exploring whether to grant fish farmers the coveted "organic" label if they use organic feed; largely protect their fish from hormones, pesticides and chemicals; and institute practices to keep fish from escaping into the ocean.

This week the department's National Organic Standards Board is expected to issue its recommendations to the agency on the matter.

Campaign advocates question whether farm-raised salmon can ever be considered "organic" because the fish are never allowed to migrate naturally and because they eat fish meal that comes in part from wild-caught fish, a practice that can deplete ocean resources and increase the salmon's concentration of carcinogenic PCBs.

Source: The Daily News