Marine scientists at Oregon State University have published a species list identifying the best and worst selections on the market in terms of both human health and seafood sustainability.
Salmon is our Pacific Northwest icon. It ranks first among all species in consumption, but its popularity, availability and pricing have been stimulated by aquaculture. The Norwegians created the successful salmon farming efforts now concentrated in Chile and British Columbia and producing a harvest that
feeds the world.
Farmed salmon made up just 2% of the world salmon supply in 1980, by 2004 it was 60%. However, the salmon farms in British Columbia (which produced 145.4 million pounds in 2003) are now closely monitored by Canadian authorities after research has proven that pollution of the formerly pristine waters of inlet pen sites poses dangers to both humans and wild salmon.
The economic impact on Northwest fishing communities dependent upon wild salmon fishing cannot be overstated.
Source: Oregon Magazine