| As far as I know, fish caught in the wild cannot | | | | problem of overfishing. Fish farming, however, is |
| be marketed as organic in the UK. However, | | | | the cause of many problems. In the UK, its |
| several supermarkets and many independent | | | | salmon thats most closely associated with farming |
| organic retailers now stock organic trout and | | | | - and its shortcomings. Public demand for cheaper |
| salmon produced in fish farms. Several types of | | | | food means that farmed salmon are often kept, |
| farmed mussels and shellfish are also likely to | | | | for financial reasons, very densely stocked, with |
| become more widely available in the future. | | | | huge numbers of fish crammed into very little |
| In organic fish farming, many of the pesticides, | | | | space. In this state, the fish can more easily |
| dyes and antibiotics widely used in conventional | | | | become diseased, and these diseases can spread |
| fish farming are not permitted and so these fish | | | | to wild fish. Huge amounts of antibiotics are |
| products are generally accepted to be credible | | | | required to keep the fish moderately healthy. Also |
| organic products by both the soil association and | | | | a confidential study for the UKs top organic body |
| consumers. | | | | highlighted gaps between its principles and the |
| However, from an animal welfare point of view, | | | | standards it accepted, BBC Newsnight reported. |
| there is some controversy about allowing farmed | | | | Is organic fish sustainable? |
| fish to be labelled as organic. Organic principles | | | | Other problems are escapes, when farmed fish |
| demand that livestock (which includes fish) should | | | | interbreed with wild fish and potentially weaken |
| be able to express its 'natural' behaviour pattern | | | | wild stocks, as well as pollution to the water and |
| and be kept as close to natural stocking densities | | | | seabed around fish farms. Farmed salmon, which |
| as possible. How can this be when they are kept | | | | are carnivorous, eat three times their body |
| in cages in either inland or in fish farms out at | | | | weight in fish feed, which is made from other fish |
| sea? | | | | - not the best use of resources from an |
| The true cost of fish farming | | | | environmental point of view. |
| Fish farming seems like a practical solution to the | | | | |