Sustainable Salmon Explained: Choosing Salmon Salmon That’s Good for You and the Planet
Updated on Jun 19, 2021
Salmon is a favorite fish for many people because it’s tasty, healthy, and full of nutrients like protein and omega-3s. But did you know that not all salmon is the same when it comes to helping the planet?
Choosing environmentally friendly salmon (also called “sustainable salmon”) means you’re making a choice that’s better for the oceans, rivers, and the animals that live there.
This guide will help you understand what makes salmon sustainable, which types are the best choices, and which to avoid. You’ll learn companies that care for the environment while supplying fresh salmon.
What Makes Salmon Environmentally Sustainable?
Salmon is environmentally sustainable when it’s caught or raised in ways that protect the planet. This means fish populations stay healthy, oceans and rivers aren’t damaged, and other animals remain safe. Choosing sustainable salmon helps reduce pollution and prevent overfishing.
Wild-caught salmon is sustainable when it comes from healthy populations and uses careful fishing methods, like drift gillnets, lift nets, purse seines, and trolling lines, which limit harm to other animals and habitats. Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label to know it meets strict standards.
Farmed salmon can also be sustainable if managed responsibly. Most are raised in net pens, which can sometimes pollute or let fish escape, but newer recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) keep salmon in tanks on land, control water quality, and reduce risks. Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification ensures farmed salmon meets high environmental and social standards.
Sustainable Salmon Guide: What to Buy and What to Avoid
Choosing the right salmon means considering both health and sustainability. Here’s a list of the different types to help you decide.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye salmon, also called blueback or red salmon, is always wild-caught. Most populations are healthy, especially when caught in the U.S. using lift nets during the early summer run in Puget Sound.
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon is exclusively farmed in the U.S. For the best options, pick ASC-certified fish from RAS farms or from Maine or the Faroe Islands. Try to steer clear of Atlantic salmon from Canada, Chile, Norway, or Scotland unless it’s certified.
Chinook Salmon
Chinook, also known as king salmon, may be wild-caught or farmed. U.S. or Canadian wild-caught Chinook is a solid choice, except for fish from Puget Sound or British Columbia’s South Coast.
Farmed Chinook from recirculating aquaculture systems, New Zealand, or British Columbia is generally considered sustainable. Since some populations are overfished, always check the source before buying.
Coho Salmon
Coho, or silver salmon, can be wild or farmed. Safe wild-caught options include U.S. salmon (excluding Columbia River above Bonneville Dam) and most Canadian coho. Farmed coho from RAS systems is a good choice, but coho farmed in Chile should be avoided due to environmental concerns.
Chum Salmon
Chum salmon, also called dog, keta, or silverbrite salmon, is always wild-caught. Overfishing is unlikely, making U.S.-caught chum salmon a safe, sustainable choice.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon, also called humpback salmon, is wild-caught and generally healthy. Salmon from Washington caught with lift nets is green-rated, while other sources may carry moderate risk.
How Alaskan Salmon Company Supports Sustainability
We at the Alaskan Salmon Company take care to catch salmon in ways that are safe for the environment. We use low-impact fishing methods and work in Alaska’s clean, cold waters, where salmon populations are carefully managed to stay healthy for the future.
Alaska has special rules to protect its natural resources. The state’s constitution says that fish, wildlife, and waters belong to everyone and should be used wisely. This means the salmon we catch is done in a way that makes sure there will be plenty of fish for generations to come.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Board of Fish and Game watch over the fisheries and set rules to protect the fish, their habitats, and the people who rely on them.
Where to Buy Sustainable Salmon
Here are some great places to buy sustainable salmon, starting with ours and then a couple of other trusted companies.
- Alaskan Salmon Company - Our Alaskan salmon is 100% wild-caught using sustainable, low-impact fishing methods. Harvested from pristine northern waters and flash-frozen immediately, each fillet is vacuum-sealed to ensure superior freshness and taste. We offer a variety of premium seafood, including wild King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Black Cod, and Halibut.
- Wild Alaskan Company - The company brings consumers premium Alaskan seafood that’s both delicious and sustainably harvested. They offer gift boxes featuring Coho, Sockeye, and more, perfect for seafood lovers who care about the planet.
- Sustainable Blue - They raise premium Atlantic salmon in a land-based, closed-loop fishery using proprietary RAS technology, producing healthy, hormone- and antibiotic-free fish with zero impact on wild populations or coastal ecosystems.
- Vital Choice – Known for their responsibly sourced wild seafood, Vital Choice offers a wide selection of sustainable salmon including Sockeye and Coho. Their seafood is flash-frozen and delivered directly to your door.
- Blue Circle Foods - Passionate about both aquaculture and wild-caught fishing, Blue Circle Foods offers MSC-certified seafood, including smoked salmon, ensuring quality, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.
Summary
Opting for sustainable salmon benefits both your health and the environment. Choosing wild-caught or responsibly farmed fish helps preserve oceans, rivers, and aquatic life for the future. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand which types of salmon to buy (and which to avoid) so you can make good choices!
If you want to enjoy top-quality salmon while supporting sustainable practices, check out Alaskan Salmon Company. Shop our fresh selections, or treat someone special to our Premium Fish Variety Gift Box – Assorted Filets, featuring the very best of Alaska’s seafood.
