Best Farm-Raised Fish

Since childhood we have been hearing that fish is healthy food, especially for brain development. By the time we grew up, we learned about various types of fish and figured out which are the healthiest to eat. What most of us didn't realize until now, is that fish are either caught in the wild or are raised on fish farms. Well, fish farming is one of the major branches of mariculture and the most important branch of aquaculture. In the process of fish farming, fish are raised in man-made habitats like cages, ponds and tanks. Fish that are raised in fish farms look healthier and they also provide a source of earning to the fish marketers. Having said that, there are quite a lot of issues that are related with the health effects of eating farm-raised fish. According to the experts, eating this fish is unhealthy and can act as an open invitation to numerous health conditions. While another stream of thought says that certain types of farm-raised fish do not cause any harm. Such debates are likely to confuse common fish consumers like you and me.

Types of Farm-Raised Fish
Fish farming is a major industry in various countries, including the United States of America. Be it for recreational fishing or food fishing, fish farms do produces tons of different types of fish and seafood like shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, crabs and lobsters. However, as far as food fish are concerned, fish farmers mostly raise popular and large fish types like Atlantic salmon, tilapia, catfish, rainbow trout, European seabass, cobia, carp fish, codfish, etc. All types of fish including freshwater and saltwater fish are raised in various fish farms across the globe. When it comes to the best fish for fish farming at home, experts suggest fish species like blue tilapia, channel catfish and rainbow trout; since these fish are easy to grow fish for amateurs. All in all, amongst all the types of farm-raised fish, certain fish like tilapia, salmon, carps and codfish are the most popular food fish amongst fish lovers. Naturally, these fish are the best and the most profitable fish for their farmers too. Raising these fish definitely gives them an economical advantage and a chance to excel in this business.

Benefits of Farm-Raised Fish
Despite the debate about low-grade farm-raised fish and its negative health effects, many experts suggest that one should choose this fish over ocean-raised fish and species that are found in the wild. However, it is important to understand that by farm-raised fish, they mean fish that are raised on organic fish farms. According to the experts, ocean-raised fish are highly contaminated with the metal pollutants and other environmental dirt and debris which is present in the ocean water. Certain carnivorous fish like salmon which are raised in ocean farms; may have a high saturation of mercury and fats. Hence, organic is the best label that everyone should look for while purchasing fish in fish markets. They also claim that all the fish with fins and scales are the best farm-raised fish to eat. Fish like seabass, sardine, salmon, trouts, red snapper, mackerel, etc. can be eaten if they are organic. Such fish are also known as 'kosher fish', that should be consumed by fish eaters. One thing is clear that most fish like farm-raised salmon, cod and tilapia are unhealthy. Let's get to know the reasons for such claims made by the experts.

Contamination of Farm-Raised Fish
Most of you must be aware of various study reports and media claims about the side effects of farm-raised fish that have been raised in the recent past. Contaminated fish is one of the most controversial matters with a huge difference of opinions. Understand that omnivorous fish does not require animal or fish meat in their fish food. Carnivorous fish on the other hand need freshly caught fish like menhaden and anchovies, rather than plant protein sources. Neglecting these rules, leads to production of unhealthy breeding of farm-raised fish. Such fish are loaded with unhealthy fats, and calories that are harmful for people who are consuming them. Antibiotics and pesticides that are added to the fish farm habitats get directly into the system of these fish and as a result, they indirectly enter the systems of people who eat these fish. The biggest cause of concern for fish like farm-raised tilapia, salmon, cod, carp and other farm-raised fish is their altered nutritional values. Although fish are a rich source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids; the effects of incorrect ratio of these nutrients are pretty devastating.

Side Effects of Farm-Raised Fish
As I mentioned in the above section, farm-raised fish that are fed on foods like fish meal, bone meal, soy meal and cornmeal develop short chemical chains of omega 3 fatty acids and long chemical chains of omega 6 fatty acids. As a result of this, these fish become unhealthy and a cause of concern for the people who are already at risk of various health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol levels, and obesity. These fish also contain arachidonic acid (AA) and harmful chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Presence of these components is extremely harmful for overall health of a person. Presence of arachidonic acid and polychlorinated biphenyls increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer, respectively. Although the polychlorinated biphenyls are banned in USA, they might still be found in certain fish food sources like animal fats. As a result of all this, these fish do pose a lot of health related issues for all of us. As I mentioned earlier, when you consume healthy and organic farm-raised fish, you remain miles away from dangers of eating contaminated fish.

The Verdict
Well, as we reach towards the end of this article, I would like to advise you some of the healthy tips that various experts have suggested for those who consume farm-raised fish, on a regular basis. As we all know, fish like salmon, carp and tilapia are some of the best farm-raised types of fish that you may choose to eat. However, it is important that one should not choose any type of fish that has no certification or label from the manufacturer, guaranteeing that the fish is 'organic' or healthy for consumption. You may also like to try wild fish types like albacore tuna, mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines as they are much more healthier. In the end, as the experts suggest, eating organic fish is the best option for all the fish lovers like you and me.

On a parting note, all that I would like to say that rather than looking for convenience or cost of the fish, one should always look for the short term as well as long term health effects of the fish that one is eating. Wild or organic farm-raised fish might be expensive, but they also assure you that you are eating healthy food.