Assessment of the sustainability of organic salmon farming

Abstract

Environmental and sustainable aspects of food production are receiving increasingly more attention, which is also evident through the increasing demand for organic food products. This paper is concerned with the sustainability of organic salmon farming, an emerging segment of salmon aquaculture. The use of wild fish stocks in salmon feeds, pollution of local environments, escape of farmed salmons, the use of GMO raw materials in the feeds, medication of the fish, waste handling etc. are issues that are attached to conventional salmon farming. We will review some of the externalities caused by conventional salmon farming, which is used as a benchmark for organic salmon production. Furthermore, we will assess some solutions intended for a more environmental friendly and sustainable production, e.g. salmon feed based on fish offal and improved methods for handling organic waste.