photograph ELLA MILLER
Salmon is one of the UK’s most popular fish to enjoy at home, being quick and easy to cook, with well-known health benefits owing to its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
But there are more sustainable choices you could make to replace it that are just as good for you, including freshwater trout, which is rated ‘Best Choice’ by the Marine Conservation Society.
The problem with salmon
While there are seven species of Pacific salmon, there is only one Atlantic salmon, and it’s that which makes up the bulk of what’s sold in UK supermarkets. Atlantic salmon hatch in fresh water before migrating out to sea, where they spend most of their lives. They only return to breed and die. These days, the wild Atlantic population is critically low, due to river pollution, rising water temperature and simple over-fishing. Even farming Atlantic salmon can be unsustainable because fish can escape and infect wild populations with disease, parasites, effluents and chemicals that have been released into the sea. To ensure you’re buying salmon that meets strict criteria for sustainability, look out for the blue MSC logo. Or to check whether the salmon you’re buying is sustainable, head to mcsuk.org/goodfishguide. It’s generally a good idea to avoid any wildcaught Atlantic salmon as these stocks are under threat. Wild Pacific salmon is readily available, and although more expensive, it’s more sustainable as stocks are growing. You can find sockeye, coho, keta, chinook and pink species slightly cheaper in the freezer aisle. As well as these, freshwater farmed rainbow trout is a great alternative to salmon – try it in our easy fishcakes (opposite).