Is Coho Salmon Farmed? The Pros and Cons of Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught Coho

Coho salmon, also known as silver salmon, is a delicious and nutritious fish that is popular among seafood lovers. But when you go to buy coho at the grocery store or order it at a restaurant, you might wonder – is this farmed or wild salmon I’m eating? There are important differences between farmed and wild coho that are worth understanding

An Overview of Farm-Raised Coho Salmon

Yes, some of the coho salmon on the market today is farm-raised. In the 1970s, Norway, Chile, Japan, and Washington state were the first places to raise coho salmon in water. Today, Chile, Japan, Norway, Canada, and parts of the United States are the main places that farm coho.

Farm-raised coho are hatched in freshwater hatcheries from eggs procured from wild coho populations. After hatching, the juvenile salmon are transferred to net pens suspended in the ocean or located along coastlines. Here they are fattened up on pelleted food formulations until they reach market size.

Farmed coho salmon are harvested year-round, so they are available fresh instead of just seasonally like wild salmon. The consistent supply, along with advances in farming practices, has helped lower costs and make farmed coho more affordable and accessible.

Pros of Farm-Raised Coho Salmon

There are some advantages to choosing farm-raised coho salmon in certain circumstances

Year-round availability: Farms can harvest salmon year-round, whereas wild salmon is seasonal during spawning runs. This provides consistent supply to meet market demand.
Possible lower levels of contaminants: salmon raised in farms are not exposed to pollutants like wild fish are. However, the feed used can still be a source of contaminants.
Increased accessibility and affordability: A consistent supply of farmed salmon means it is more affordable and available to more consumers. Per capita salmon consumption has increased dramatically thanks to aquaculture.
Takes pressure off wild stocks: Providing a farmed alternative reduces dependence on wild fisheries and can benefit the sustainability of wild salmon populations when properly managed.

Cons of Farm-Raised Coho Salmon

But there are some bad things about farmed coho that you should think about as well:

Lower omega-3s: Farmed salmon contain lower levels of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA compared to wild salmon. These healthy fats are what give salmon many of its nutritional benefits.
Use of antibiotics and pesticides: Large numbers of fish confined in one area requires the use of drugs and chemicals to control disease and parasites. Traces can end up in the fish.
Pollution and waste concerns: High density farming generates a large amount of waste that can pollute surrounding waters if not properly managed. Excess feed, fish waste, and runoff impacts water quality.
Potential for escaped fish: Farmed salmon that escape from damaged nets and pens can interbreed with wild fish and alter the genetics of local populations.
Sustainability concerns: Although salmon farming takes pressure off wild stocks, there are still concerns about feed sustainability, fish health, pollution, and other factors. Responsible practices are important.

Comparing Wild-Caught vs. Farmed Coho Salmon

So how exactly does wild and farmed coho salmon differ? Here is a handy comparison:

Appearance:

Wild coho have a more natural appearance with some scars and imperfections. Their coloration is gray-blue on top and silver on the sides.
Farmed coho look uniformly silver-gray and lack the color variations since they don’t need camouflage. They also lack imperfections and appear “cleaner.”

Fat content:

Wild coho have a fat content between 5-15%, with seasonal and regional variations. This gives them a rich flavor.
Farmed coho have a fat content of about 5-8%. Their diet makes them leaner with a less robust flavor.

Omega-3 levels:

Wild salmon: 1.5-5 g of omega-3 per 100 g portion
Farmed salmon: 0.5-1.5 g of omega-3 per 100 g portion

Availability:

Wild coho is available seasonally, during annual spawning runs in late summer and fall.
Farmed coho is available fresh year-round.

Price:

Wild caught coho is more expensive, generally $15 to $30+ per pound.
Farmed coho costs $8 to $15 per pound.

Sustainability:

Wild coho from Alaska and the West Coast are well-managed fisheries with healthy stocks.
Look for responsibly farmed coho if choosing farm-raised. Avoid farmed salmon produced in ways that harm local ecosystems.

Finding Sustainable Coho Salmon

If you want the nutritional benefits of wild salmon but need the accessibility of farmed, look for farmed coho produced in systems with responsible practices in place to reduce the environmental impact. Farms certified by organizations like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council generally have stronger sustainability standards.

For wild coho, opt for salmon harvested from healthy, well-managed fisheries like those in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Keep in mind that wild salmon is seasonal – fresh coho can be found from mid-summer through late fall. Canned and frozen salmon allow enjoyment of wild coho year-round.

With a better understanding of the differences between wild-caught and farm-raised coho salmon, you can make informed seafood choices. Keep in mind your priorities – nutrition profile, sustainability, price, or seasonal availability. Both farmed and wild coho can be good options – it comes down to choosing responsibly and finding salmon produced in ways that align with your values.

is coho salmon farmed

Coho Salmon Research in the Pacific Northwest

Our research on Pacific salmon includes bycatch, forecasts for salmon harvests, ecotoxicology, genetics, marine survival, and how the fish are reacting to climate change.

NOAA Fisheries’ scientific stock assessments are key to fisheries management. To describe the past and present state of a fish stock, answer questions about its size, and make predictions about how it will react to current and future management measures, they look at the effects of fishing and other factors. Fish stock assessments support sustainable fisheries by providing fisheries managers with the information necessary to make sound decisions.

This Report to Congress summarizes efforts to recover all transnational and domestic species under…

Five-year reviews describe whether recovery is on track in the context of the recovery plan,…

Fishing Status Not subject to overfishing.

Coho salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

U. S. wild-caught coho salmon is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U. S. regulations.

NOAA Fisheries manages the commercial, recreational, and tribal fishing for salmon and steelhead in the ocean and inland waters of Alaska and the West Coast. They work with federal, state, tribal, and Canadian officials to do this. To learn more about management of these fisheries, visit our West Coast and Alaska fisheries management pages.

Some evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of coho salmon are on the Endangered Species Act’s list of threatened or endangered species. Learn more about protected coho salmon.

Coho are often called “silver salmon” because their backs are a dark metallic blue or greenish color, and their sides and bellies are silver.
They have small black spots on their back and on the top of their tail when they are in the water.
The gumline of the lower jaw is lighter than it is on Chinook salmon.
When they are spawning in fresh water, coho are dark with reddish-maroon spots on their sides.
Spawning males develop a strongly hooked snout and large teeth.
Before young coho go to sea, they lose their parr marks, which are a pattern of vertical bars and spots that help them hide. Instead, they get the dark back and light belly that ocean-living coho have.

Coho salmon are anadromous, which means they can live in both freshwater and saltwater. They hatch in streams and rivers and spend a year there before moving to the ocean to feed and grow.
Some groups of coho salmon swim more than 1,000 miles across the ocean, while other groups stay close to the streams where they were born.
They feed in the ocean for about one and a half years, then go back to the streams or rivers where they were born to spawn, usually in the fall or early winter.
Salmon adults are 24 to 30 inches long and weigh 8 to 12 pounds.
They typically spawn between the ages of 3 and 4.
The female coho fish build gravel nests, or redds, on the bottom of streams to lay their eggs.
The eggs are kept warm for six to seven weeks until they hatch.
All coho salmon die after spawning.
The young larvae stay in the gravel until the yolk sac is absorbed.
Young coho salmon eat plankton and bugs when they are in fresh water.
When they are in the ocean, they eat small fish like herring, sandlance, anchovies, and sardines.
In addition to sablefish, adults have been seen eating young pink and chum salmon, as well as young brown salmon.
Young coho are eaten by otters, seals, and many kinds of fish and birds. Sharks, sea lions, seals, and orcas feed on adult coho.
After salmon spawn and die, their bodies are a good source of food and energy for the river ecosystem. By adding nitrogen and phosphorous compounds to streams, carcasses have been shown to help newly hatched salmon grow and stay alive.

Kingdom	Animalia	Phylum	Chordata	Class	Actinopterygii	Order	Salmoniformes	Family	Salmonidae	Genus	Oncorhynchus	Species	kisutch

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Where do coho salmon live?

Coho salmon spend their early life growing and feeding in freshwater streams, estuaries, and associated wetlands. They spend the remainder of their life foraging in the ocean before returning to the streams and tributaries where they were born to spawn.

Is farmed salmon as nutritious as wild salmon?

Scientific evidence suggests that farmed salmon may be larger than wild salmon and have a higher omega-3 content. However, it may also be more likely to contain contaminants.

What is a coho salmon?

When caught in its silver state (between June and September), coho salmon is a flavorful delicacy.However, once it turns red during spawning, it becomes inedible.Enjoyed for its mild flavor, coho salmon

Are coho salmon a sport fish?

Photo by Roger Tabor, USFWS Coho Salmon take advantage of smaller rivers and tributaries along the Pacific coast that are too small for larger Pacific Salmon species such as Chinook. As a result, they are a popular sport fish in the Puget Sound and can sometimes be found in urban settings if cold, clean, year-round water is available.