Farmed salmon has many benefits, too
The Durango Herald, Sunday, June 12
Myra Miller’s obesity concerns are to be admired , but her nutritional guidelines regarding farmed salmon fall short (Herald, June 1). And the Herald did a great job exclaiming the advantages of organic foods but needed to be more balanced and validate opinions.
I am a former commercial fisherman (wild salmon and crab) and boat owner in Alaska, beginning in 1973. Also, I have been involved in the farmed salmon industry since 1985. It irks me to no end when journalists fail to validate the statements of naysayers on an industry producing healthful products and fail to balance their reports with the contrary opinions of educated advocates. An example of balanced journalism is the March 10, 2010, article by CTV in British Columbia. Find it by Goggling “farmed salmon BC” and look for the article under CTV.
What is even more frustrating is the Herald quotes a dietitian who can’t see the health advantages of eating farmed salmon, which is rich in healthful Omega 3s – some tests have shown even more so than wild salmon. And the animal protein bases for farmed salmon are the same components as digested by wild salmon, contrary to the Mercy dietitian’s “belief.” Miller uses the word “inflamed” which does nothing but inflame and misinform the consumer. Both she and the Herald should open their minds to the facts and not sensationalize their opinions.
A much more recognized authority on salmon than Miller is Lori Petryk, a Vancouver, B.C.-based dietician, who said in the CTV report above that “If you can still afford the gold standard of wild salmon, that’s the best. If not, then farmed salmon is still really good for you.” One of the best source of facts regarding farmed salmon is www.salmonfarmers.org.
Thanks to farmed salmon, we have tremendously expanded the markets for wild salmon and resulting value added products, which has raised the prices and opportunities for all wild fishermen, supporting industries and the jobs/economies of producing nations.
Let’s validate opinions and balance the journalism.
Kellus Sewell, Durango
