Is farm-raised fish really worse than wild-caught seafood? Experts sound off

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At seafood counters across the country, grocery shoppers are often confronted with a choice: Should they buy wild-caught or farm-raised fish?

Wild-caught fish is often seen as the premium choice — while farm-raised seafood is generally more affordable and accessible.

Some proponents of wild-caught fish claim that farm-raised fish is of a lower quality and worse for the environment’ but farm-raised remains a popular option.

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The debate is more nuanced than many consumers realize.

Two seafood experts spoke with Fox News Digital about the key differences between wild-caught and farm-raised fish. Here’s what they said.

‘Markets for both’

The biggest misconception is that all farm-raised seafood is either good or bad, said Mark Frisch, the Florida-based executive vice president of seafood distributor BSF.

“Just like with any other protein, you have farms doing things certain ways, and you have other farms doing things certain ways — and there are markets for both,” he told Fox News Digital.

Man holding a tilapia fish at a fish farm

“It comes down to trusting the source, trusting the provider that they’re sourcing things the right way, and just doing a little bit of homework and educating yourself.”

Consumers can have a difficult time navigating seafood choices, Frisch said, because of the wide variety of labels, certifications and species on the market.

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“If you compare [this] to how educated the consumer is around buying beef or chicken, where everything’s farmed, all they have to look for is: Is it USDA Choice or Prime?” he said.

“That’s just a grade. They’re not even looking at anything else in that respect. Is it antibiotic-free or not? Is it pasture raised?”

That differs strongly with how Americans view seafood quality, he said.

“There’s no easy equivalent,” he said.

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“We don’t have a USDA organic standard to promote something like those other proteins do.”

Health considerations

“Wild fish generally offer a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio thanks to their natural diet,” said Dr. Kristin Struble, an Arizona-based pediatrician.

A grocery store employee holding a salmon fillet inside a seafood display case.

Tarm-raised fish are often fed corn, soy and other plant-based feeds, she said.

They may also receive astaxanthin supplements to enhance their pink coloring.

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“While astaxanthin is a natural antioxidant also found in wild salmon, the synthetic version used in farming is considered safe by the FDA,” she told Fox News Digital.

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But Struble also cautioned consumers to be mindful of mercury levels in some wild fish, including bigeye tuna and swordfish.