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The age of information as well as the lightning-quick accessibility of the internet has made it easier than ever to eat healthily. Along with this broadened ability to review the foods we consume comes the responsibility to do so! Seafood has been at the center of many health debates, often surrounding the battle between aquaculture and wild-caught seafood. While there are legitimate arguments to be made in support of both seafood acquisition methods, we want to take time to highlight the traits and benefits that wild-caught seafood can provide.

In today’s discussion, we are going to break down the barriers between wild caught seafood and its factory-farmed counterparts while dispelling a few common myths and misconceptions along the way.

Let’s Learn About Wild Caught Seafood

While many of us understand that wild-caught food is better than inorganic alternatives, we might not always understand why. Let’s explore this topic by breaking down what wild caught seafood is and what it can do for YOU.

What Is Wild Caught Seafood?

As it turns out, the name describes itself! Wild-caught seafood is simply food that has been sourced from its natural habitat, likely focusing on oceans, rivers, and lakes.

What Are the Benefits of Wild Caught Seafood?

There are a ton of reasons to consider wild seafood when compared to conventionally farmed options. Wild seafood can look, taste, and even cook differently than farmed alternatives. Let’s take a closer examination to see just how these differences may manifest.

1. Different Diets, Improved Nutrition – First and foremost, wild creatures will opt for their natural diet, leading to an all-around healthier and tastier meal. This is markedly different from what we see fed to farmed fish, particularly in species like salmon and shrimp.
2. Reduced/Eliminate Contaminants – One of the biggest and most pervasive issues in the world of factory seafood farming is the prevalence of contaminants. From antibiotics to chemicals and all the way back to artificial nutrition options, factory-farmed seafood has the potential for more contaminants when compared to wild-caught, cleaner alternatives. That isn’t to say that aquaculture-reared fish are intrinsically unhealthy, but the potential is there.
3. Cost Expectations – Wild-caught seafood will almost always cost more than factory-farmed alternatives. Paying a premium for freshly frozen seafood can pay dividends when it comes time to judge the final taste of your meal, though you will pay extra.
4. Eco-Friendly – While wild-caught seafood won’t always necessarily be sourced from eco-friendly means, catching wild seafood is always the more sustainable option. Sustainably sourcing your seafood from wild sources means less environmental destruction and habitat loss.

As you can see, there are several direct and noticeable differences between a wild-caught fish and a farmed alternative. With that being said, there is still more to learn about farmed seafood, so let us take a closer examination of that option.

Understanding Farmed Seafood as an Alternative

While wild-caught seafood holds a better reputation than farmed seafood as an alternative, there are informed reasons to make purchases from either category.

Aquaculture is a prevalent part of the seafood production experience, expanding fish availability to every corner of the world. In fact, a study by Ocean Health Index revealed that nearly half of all seafood consumption can be traced back to farmed fish through aquaculture.

What IS Aquaculture?

Aquaculture is the science of breeding, raising, and eventually harvesting fish and aquatic plants. Aquaculture is vital to the health and sustainability of our food reserves as the technique is often utilized to rebuild stocks of threatened and potentially endangered species.

Benefits of Aquaculture

More than just a way to address seafood sustainability, aquaculture provides a few unique benefits to the seafood industry that you might not otherwise have recognized.

• Brimming With Fatty Acids – One of the most noted concerns regarding farmed seafood is the lack of a traditional diet and its corresponding impact on available fatty acids. Wild-caught fish and farmed fish can possess equal amounts of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, alpha-linolenic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid. These acids are healthy, vital to our cardiovascular system, and found in abundance both in the wild and in farms.
• Technological Advancements – While disease and bacterial growth is certainly possible in factory-farmed scenarios, technological advancements have made aquaculture sites some of the most advanced seafood farms in the world. Fisheries are closely monitored by advanced technology to prevent and contain potential disease and illness within its stock.
• Minimize Environmental Damage – When properly regulated and overseen by governing bodies, fish farms can provide a useful service to our sustainable efforts. Closely monitored farms feature licenses based upon adhering to strict environmental standards.

Embrace Sustainable Seafood With Northern Chef

Tai Foong USA is a leading supplier of frozen and sustainable seafood. Founded in 1958, Tai Foong USA has been committed to producing high-quality food products through a variety of its different brands, including Northern Chef, Northern King, and Royal Asia.

More than just one of the leading retail suppliers of frozen seafood, Tai Foong USA has been standing on the shoulders of the sustainability movement since its inception. Understanding the importance that comes with sustainable harvests has been at the foundation of every maneuver made throughout Tai Foong’s career, including becoming the first company ever to bring Marine Stewardship Council certified sustainable shrimp to the market.

To learn more about their sustainability movement or to pursue high-quality, freshly frozen products, head to Tai Foong USA or your local supermarket!