Global efforts call out farmed salmon’s drain on our oceans and vulnerable communities

Living Oceans joined global efforts calling for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to revise their position on sustainable aquaculture to exclude carnivorous fish farming, including salmon. We also joined an open letter to the Norwegian Government urging them to mandate a ban on sourcing fish oil from Northwest Africa.  

Today, just over half (51%) of global seafood comes from aquaculture. For over the last decade, farmed salmon has retained the number one spot, globally, for the most valuable traded aquaculture species. The rise of the profitable farmed salmon comes with a high price tag for our wild fish, oceans -- and the many communities that rely on them.  

In 2022, approximately 22 per cent of the global fish catch (more than 17 million tonnes) was used to feed carnivorous fish such as farmed salmon. Increasing demand and profits not only drains our oceans of wild fish to feed unsustainable salmon; it also fuels food insecurity in areas such as West Africa where industrial fleets plunder marine waters for fish feed for Norwegian farmed salmon.  

Despite the evidence, time and time again the farmed salmon industry claims ‘sustainability’ and ‘feeding the world’. These claims are reflected in government and FAO policies. It’s time for governments and the FAO to face the reality that farming salmon does not meet these claims. Instead, these agencies should implement policies that support true environmental and socially responsible growth in non-carnivorous aquaculture (e.g., shellfish, seaweed, herbivorous fish) and small-scale fisheries.  Add your voice: Sign the petition to the FAO here.