Problems in the industry
In this article we will take a look at the fishing industry and try and the journey the fish take before it ends up on your plate.
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Then we will take a more focused look at one type of fish, Salmon, and use that as a case study to discuss ethical and sustainability considerations, and show how the most ethical or sustainable choice is not as straightforward as we would hope.
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We do this so that you can get to know how the industry is today and join us in our journey to change it.
Here is a quick overview of the steps involved in getting the fish to market. Often the fish travels across borders before it ends up in your local store. Did you know that when you buy a fish product in a fish store they are required to tell you where the fish is from if you ask? Try it next time! Maybe you can find some fish produced closer to where you live.
The salmon industry
Now lets take a closer look at one type of fish; The salmon. This fish is connected to allot of controversy due to being over fished. In fact, 95% of salmon sold in resurants and supermarkets today are from fish farmin. Now we are going to take a closer look at the consequesnces of fish farming and how it is in comarison to wild salmon and new upcoming "solutions" such as so called blue houses.
Farmed salmon
Today 95% of salmon you buy in the store is farmed salmon, but what does that mean? You might imagine big warehouses with fish tanks, but that is actually quite far from the truth. Fish farming is actually done in small secluded areas in the sea called, something that works to keep the salmon in place. However, this is not the most healthy way for the fish to live as you can see from the diagram on the right.
Source: https://www.en-academic.com (04/10/2022)
Wild salmon
Salmon eggs are hatched in the mountain rivers, then as it grows it makes its way down to the fjords and eventually the sea. ONly when it is fully grown and ready to mate does it return back to the river it was born.
However, 95% of salmon is not farmed for no reason. Due to overfishing, using only wild salmon would leand to the species going instinct. So, to meet the demand of today, we need fish farms to sustain the production.
Source: https://www.villakssenter.no/laksens-livssyklus (04/10/2022)
Blue house
Blue houses is the next generation of fish farming. Instead of having fish farms in the sea they are in big "blue houses" on land. Atlantic Saphire is a company in Denmark pioneering within this new technology. They claim this is a sustainable solution to current fish farming as ....
Issues in the industry
Habitate loss
Commercial fishing is in general quite harch to the habitate. Depending on the method of fishing, it can cause severe damage to the life at the bottom of the sea, lead to massive amounts of bycatch and leave the fish to suffer from stress and suffecation for hours.
Labour explotation and illigal fishing
Sadly illigal fishing has become a big ussue. Bad working conditions, exploitation of local fishing areas for the locals. No regulations around fishing methods or fish stocks in the areas. Bad working conditions and unliveable wages.
Lack of transparancy
Fishing stores in Denmark and ... are obligated to share inforamtion about where the fish has been cought. However looking further into.....
Animal welfear
The sad reality is that when the fish is on your hook, it is in pain..... The same applies for commercial fishing, but more. The fish will be up of the water for longer..... wich leads to a traumatic death...
But what is the biggest issue?
Exactly what you consider to be the main issues depend on from what angle you look. Do you mean in terms of sustainability? Animal welfear? Eethics?
What can we do to change this?
As consumers we aften find ourselves unable to make any change. We want som quick fix we can do here and now and see imideat results. However, that is why many of our attempts fall short. As consumers we can be more critical and ask more round where we get our food and products from. By asking these questions we put pressue on the suppliers to anwer, and be transparent about their practice. That is the aim of FISH. We wish to make you more awear, and more critical of your consumer habits so that you can not only make better consumer choices, but also facilitate real change.....