Does farmed salmon depress the price that wild salmon fishermen receive for their fish?
Salmon farming has undoubtedly changed salmon markets in the world. Prior to the advent of farming, salmon were only available fresh for a few months during the fishing season, and prices swung wildly from year-to-year based on the changing returns of salmon. Fresh farmed salmon is now available every day of the year, and salmon has gone from a luxury product to a food commodity almost as readily available as chicken, beef and pork. Overall, salmon prices are now more stable and somewhat lower than before farmed salmon became widely available. Demand, however, is also much higher than it used to be. The consumption of fresh and frozen salmon in the US nearly quadrupled from 1990 to 1999, mostly due to increased farmed salmon consumption (Knapp, 2000). Since BC farmed salmon account for less than 5% of total world salmon production, operations in this province are price-takers and do not have an impact on world salmon prices. For more facts, click here!
