Does farmed salmon have a higher fat content than wild salmon?
The fat content of farmed Atlantic salmon is closely comparable to that of wild chinook salmon. Of all the salmon species, chinook, sockeye and farmed Atlantic salmon have the highest fat content, averaging from 8.5% to 10.8%. Coho, pink and chum salmon have lower levels, ranging from 3.5% to 5.9%. (USDA 2002 data) The level of fat in any wild or farmed fish depends on the fish’s diet. Feed given to farmed salmon is specifically formulated to be efficiently converted into flesh and to promote good health of the fish.
