For some people this may not represent 'breaking news', but for some consumers it may be important news to direct their buying power towards farmed fish. For for all of us in the aquaculture sector supportive news is always welcome ed. A new study prepared for the BC Salmon Farmers Association by Ottawa
based RIAS Inc. examines the evidence from life-cycle analyses in the
literature on the environmental footprint of BC farm-raised salmon
compared to production of other food proteins. Through a life-cycle analysis (LCA), which the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) defines as "a tool for the systematic
evaluation of the environmental aspects of a product or service
system through all stages of its life cycle," it is possible to compare
different food systems based on several objective environmental
measures. Based on the valuation of greenhouse gases, land use, water use, and eutrophication, salmon farming has a lower total environmental cost than beef, chicken, or pork. - B.C. farm raised salmon has the lowest overall
environmental cost of any of the major protein options available to
consumers today.
- Farm-raised salmon is 24 per cent less costly to the environment
than chicken to almost 500 per cent less costly than beef.
Read/download the report here.
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