MosJan Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 "They're like floating pig farms," said Daniel Pauly, professor of fisheries at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. "They consume a tremendous amount of highly concentrated protein pellets and they make a terrific mess." http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=69&db=6&C0=1 Reprinted from: L.A. Times Fish Farms Become Feedlots of the Sea By Kenneth R. Weiss Like cattle pens, the salmon operations bring product to market cheaply. But harm to ocean life and possibly human health has experts worried. If you bought a salmon filet in the supermarket recently or ordered one in a restaurant, chances are it was born in a plastic tray here, or in a place just like it. These fish farms contribute to the problem because the captive salmon must be fed. Salmon are carnivores and, unlike vegetarian catfish that are fed grain on farms, they need to eat fish to bulk up fast and remain healthy. It takes about 2.4 pounds of wild fish to produce one pound of farmed salmon, according to Rosamond L. Naylor, an agricultural economist at Stanford's Center for Environmental Science and Policy. That means grinding up a lot of sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring and other fish to produce the oil and meal compressed into pellets of salmon chow. Instead of streaking through the ocean or leaping up rocky streams, it spent three years like a marine couch potato, circling lazily in pens, fattening up on pellets of salmon chow. It was vaccinated as a small fry to survive the diseases that race through these oceanic feedlots, acres of net-covered pens tethered offshore. It was likely dosed with antibiotics to ward off infection or fed pesticides to shed a beard of bloodsucking sea lice. For that rich, pink hue, the fish was given a steady diet of synthetic pigment. Without it, the flesh of these caged salmon would be an unappetizing, pale gray. These fish farms contribute to the problem because the captive salmon must be fed. Salmon are carnivores and, unlike vegetarian catfish that are fed grain on farms, they need to eat fish to bulk up fast and remain healthy. It takes about 2.4 pounds of wild fish to produce one pound of farmed salmon, according to Rosamond L. Naylor, an agricultural economist at Stanford's Center for Environmental Science and Policy. That means grinding up a lot of sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring and other fish to produce the oil and meal compressed into pellets of salmon chow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Farm Raised Salmon vs Wild Salmon Written by Gloria Tsang R.D. last updated: November 2004 Farm Raised Salmon Wild SalmonHealthcastle.com recently received numerous questions regarding the safety of wild salmon and farm raised salmon and PCBs. On one hand, the American Heart Association recommends eating fish/salmon and their products to prevent heart disease. On the other hand, recent media reported that some fish and farm raised salmon contain toxic substances. We will discuss a few major reports and some background information about farm raised salmon and PCBs so that you can make a sound decision. What are PCBs? Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as congeners). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. PCBs are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless to light yellow. PCBs have been used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment because they don't burn easily and are good insulators. The manufacture of PCBs was stopped in the U.S. in 1977 because of evidence they build up in the environment and can cause harmful health effects. However, PCBs persist in the environment. Fish absorb PCBs from contaminated sediments and from their food. Farm Raised Salmon vs Farm Raised Salmon * David Suzuki Foundation: In January 2001, BBC News produced a program "Warnings from the Wild, The Price of Salmon". The program cited a pilot study conducted by Dr Easton with David Suzuki Foundation. The study found that farm raised salmon and the feed they were fed appeared to have a much higher level of contamination with respect to PCBs, organo-chlorine pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers than did wild salmon. It concluded that it seems that contamination in farm fish comes from the feed. * EWG Report: In July 2003, the Environmental Working Group EWG released a report stating that farm raised salmon purchased in the United States contain the highest level of PCBs in the food supply system. In the report, EWG reported that farm raised salmon have 16 times PCBs found in wild salmon, 4 times the levels in beef, and 3.4 times the levels in other seafood. EWG recommends that consumers choose wild salmon instead of farm raised salmon, and they should eat an 8 oz serving of farm raised salmon no more than once a month. * Science Journal: In January 2004, the journal Science warned that farm raised salmon contain 10 times more toxins (PCBs, dioxin, etc.) than wild salmon. The study recommends that farm raised salmon should be eaten once a month, perhaps every two months as they pose cancer risks to the human beings. Why do Farm Raised Salmon contain more PCBs than Wild Salmon? * Fishmeal/Feed: Studies found that the fishmeal fed to farm raised salmon is highly contaminated with PCBs * Farm Raised salmon are "fatter": farm raised salmon are generally bigger in size and contain more fat than wild salmon. PCBs are stored in fat and remain there for an extended period of time, therefore farm raised salmon contain more PCBs. Government Guidelines? The average level of PCBs in salmon is 0.027 ppm (parts per million) * FDA: The current FDA limit of PCBs in all fish is 2 ppm * Health Canada: The current Health Canada's guideline for PCBs in fish is 2 ppm. * EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency guideline on PCBs is much stricter. They recommend that fish with PCBs level between 0.024 to 0.048 ppm should be eaten 8 oz a month. What does this mean? There is an obvious discrepancy in the limit set by various health agencies. Dr Mark Woodin of Tufts University noted that even if the strict EPA guidelines were known to be the right ones, they are based on the amount of PCBs that are thought to be capable of causing one additional cancer case in 100,000 people over a 70-year lifetime. Farm Raised Salmon Wild SalmonKey Message: So don't give up fish and salmon completely. It is a known fact that fish and salmon offer benefits in heart health. The benefits to heart health may outweigh the risk of getting cancer from eating farmed salmon. Choose a variety of fish and include them in a healthy well-balanced diet and practice the following: * Trim the skin and the visible fat as PCBs are store in the fat portion * Prepare your salmon to reduce a significant portion of fat such as grilling and broiling * Try canned salmon as almost all of them are wild salmon Farm Raised Salmon Wild SalmonFurther Reading: * Mercury: Is Fish Safe to eat? * EWG - PCBs in Farmed Salmon * David Suzuki Foundation - Salmon Farming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Mercury: Are Fish safe to eat? Written by Gloria Tsang R.D. last updated: November 2004 Mercury Is Fish Safe to EatShortly after the Mad Cow Disease and the Chicken flu episodes, fish and seafood are the next recent center of controversy and many of us wonder: Is Fish is still safe to eat? What's in Fish? Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children's proper growth and development. However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. In addition, fish also contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic industrial compounds that were banned in 1976, but that persist in the environment. Fish absorb PCBs from contaminated sediments and from their food. You can limit exposure to PCBs simply by trimming, skinning and cooking your catch to reduce fatty tissue. But, unlike mercury, which you can eliminate from your body over time, PCBs are stored in body fat for many years. FDA Recommendation on Mercury and Fish In March 2004, FDA and EPA revised its advisories on mercury in fish. Here is a summary: Target Women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury Avoid Fish with High levels of Mercury Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish 12 oz. (~2 meals) of Low-Mercury Fish per week shrimp, crab, cod, clams, scallops, canned light tuna, canned salmon, pollock, and catfish etc. Note: Albacore "White" tuna contains more mercury. Limit 6 oz (~1 meal) of albacore tuna per week. For a complete list of fish and recommended portion, go to National Resources Defense Council Mercury Is Fish Safe to eatKey Message: Fish offers benefits in heart health. Indeed, the American Heart Association recommends fish and fish products for prevention of heart disease. So don't give up fish completely, but do choose wisely for an average of 2 meals a week. Mercury Is Fish Safe to eatFurther Reading: * Foods to avoid during Pregnancy * PCBs: Is Farmed Salmon safe to eat? * Pregnancy Diet and Nutrition * FDA's Seafood Information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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