I really enjoy eating seafood in the winter, but since I don’t have to work as much, I can’t afford to eat far more fish than I’d like to. I did notice, though, that Faroe Island salmon is showing up on more menus after my wife and I recently treated ourselves to a few fancy meals on Cape Ann and in Boston.
Compared to typical farmed Atlantic salmon dishes, this stuff ain’t cheap with local prices between $28-$34 a plate. What’s the big deal about the higher price? I knew what it was after one bite of my wife’s dinner at the Black Arrow in Manchester-by-the-Sea—sorry for the old-fashioned SNL reference.
A few weeks ago, she went to Boston’s Seaport District and had another dinner of Faroe Island salmon at Gather Boston. It wasn’t as good as the first time, but it was still pretty good, especially when you compare it to what most places serve for Atlantic salmon. What’s the secret? Why does this farm-raised salmon taste and look so much better than the rest?
Salmon lovers rejoice – the renowned Faroe Island salmon is back in season! This premium salmon from the remote Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic has gained fame for its exceptionally rich flavor and tender texture But what makes it stand out from other salmon on the market?
As a seafood enthusiast always on the lookout for the next great catch, I was determined to find out. Below I break down the key factors that make Faroe Island salmon a cut above the rest.
Where Are the Faroe Islands?
- Located in the North Atlantic between Iceland, Norway and Scotland
- Remote, rugged volcanic islands with cool, clear waters
- Sparsely populated, pristine environment
The Faroe Islands’ remote location and pristine waters are the foundation for raising superior salmon. The cold North Atlantic currents keep waters brisk clean, and full of natural food sources. This ideal environment allows the salmon to thrive.
Why Is Faroe Salmon Considered Better?
There are several key reasons these salmon achieve premium quality:
1. Natural Open-Net Pens
- Salmon swim freely in large enclosed pens in natural fjords
- Pens allow ocean water and food to flow through naturally
- Mimics wild habitat more closely than tanks or ponds
This open-net pen design lets the salmon swim and get stronger on their own. They have a healthy diet because they have a lot of space and food comes to them directly from the ocean.
2. Natural Feeding Habits
- Feast on foods found naturally in the ocean like herring, capelin, krill and shrimp
- Achieve a rich, balanced omega-3 fatty acid profile
With no need for commercial feed, the salmon eat a diet nature intended. This nourishes them and develops healthy fats that deliver flavor and benefits to us.
3. Pure, Pristine Water
- Faroe Islands waters are some of the cleanest in the world
- Free of pollution, toxins and contaminants
- Clear, crisp water allows salmon to grow in peak condition
The purity of the North Atlantic waters surrounding the Faroe Islands gives the salmon an ideal environment to stay healthy and strong.
4. Long, Slow Growth
- Cool water temperatures keep growth at a natural, steady pace
- Takes 4-5 years to reach maturity vs. 2 years on average at commercial farms
- Extended growth results in enhanced texture and more complex flavor
The salmon grow slowly, building muscle and flavor over twice as long as faster-growing commercial stocks. This extended development is key to superior eating quality.
5. Sustainable Practices
- Salmon pens are set up by family farms that have done aquaculture for generations
- Rigorous regulations ensure the environment and wildlife are protected
- Limited harvests help maintain quality control
generations: 1
quality: 2
texture: 2
temperature: 1
pure: 1
pollution: 1
pace: 1
maturity: 1
maintains: 1
limited: 1
key: 2
isolated: 1
ideal: 2
harvests: 1
habitat: 1
generations: 1
Responsible practices allow the salmon and surrounding ecosystems to thrive harmoniously, resulting in a sustainable delicacy.
Why Pay More For Faroe Island Salmon?
Clearly, the pristine waters and traditional aquaculture practices of the Faroe Islands yield salmon of remarkable quality. But you’ll notice the price tag is higher than standard farmed or even wild salmon. Here’s why the premium cost is justified:
- Harder to produce smaller quantities in remote locations
- No chemicals, hormones or antibiotics used in raising process
- Higher labor costs to hand-feed and monitor salmon growth
- Difficult to access and export from a remote island chain
- Consistently voted “best salmon in blind taste tests”
While the price is elevated, so too is the eating experience. Faroe Island salmon offers the flavor and texture salmon lovers dream of. Every bite delivers a mouthwatering burst of ocean freshness.
Frequency of Entities:Faroe Island salmon: 14Salmon: 12Faroe Islands: 10waters: 5environment: 3temperature: 2swim: 2flavor: 2texture: 2diet: 2omega-3: 2aquaculture: 2sustainable: 2pristine: 2superior: 2quality: 2natural: 2water: 2growth: 2ocean: 2eat: 1pens: 1fjords: 1flow: 1strong: 1space: 1ample: 1food: 1healthy: 1commercial: 1feed: 1nourishes: 1fatty acids: 1profile: 1world: 1clean: 1cleanest: 1condition: 1peak: 1stay: 1healthy: 1average: 1muscle: 1complex: 1developed: 1extended: 1key: 1eating: 1quality: 1generations: 1harmoniously: 1resulting: 1sustainable: 1delicacy: 1quantities: 1remote: 1locations: 1process: 1antibiotics: 1hormones: 1chemicals: 1monitor: 1growth: 1chain: 1island: 1export: 1access: 1difficult: 1consistently: 1voted: 1tests: 1taste: 1dream: 1lovers: 1mouthwatering: 1burst: 1freshness: 1market: 1menu: 1restaurant: 1choose: 1memorable: 1meal: 1unparalleled: 1taste: 1richness: 1nutritional: 1worth: 1splurge: 1thoughts: 1love: 1hear: 1
Faroe Island Fish Farmers Association
The FFFA is the representing body for the Faroe Island aquaculture industry. From research to lobbying to educating consumers, the FFFA ensures a common message and consistent, high-quality salmon from the fish farms. The organization was founded in 1980 but has roots that go back to 1967 with the first attempt at Faroese fish farming. Back then it was rainbow trout, ten years later the first Faroe Island salmon farms were established.
From the 1980s to the early 2000s, there was a learning curve that led to the high quality of Faroe Island salmon today. In the 1980s, there were more than 60 farms, but disease and low prices made it clear that the business needed more rules. This led to a reduction in fish farms, down to 21 in the 1990’s. The “Faroese Veterinarian Act on Aquaculture,” which is one of the strictest in the aquaculture industry, was made because of disease outbreaks in the early 2000s.
From this point on, Faroe Island salmon really took off, and now there are only a few of the best salmon producers left. By 2010 the Faroe Islands were producing some of the best farmed fish in the world.
Faroe Island Salmon Producers
Regulation and consolidation has left the Faroe Islands with 3 producers: Bakkafrost, Marine Harvest Faroes, and HiddenFjord. Marine Harvest produces both fresh and frozen whole salmon. HiddenFjord only provides fresh whole salmon but Bakkafrost offers fresh and frozen whole salmon along with salmon portions and by-products.
As of 2019, your salmon is not Faroese if it did not come from one of these three places. Update 2023: Mowi, the world’s biggest farmed salmon company (biggest doesn’t always mean best), bought Marine Harvest. I took down the old link to their website because of this.
Is Faroe Island salmon good for you?
FAQ
What is considered the best salmon in the world?
Is Faroe Island salmon the same as Atlantic salmon?
What country has the best quality salmon?
Why is Faroe Island salmon so expensive?
Is Faroe Island Salmon good?
Back then it was rainbow trout, ten years later the first Faroe Island salmon farms were established. Although today Faroe Island salmon is top-quality, there was admittedly a learning curve through the 1980’s up until the early 2000’s.
Is eating salmon beneficial?
Salmon is beneficial for health and is part of a healthy and balanced diet. Salmon has vitamin D, healthy fats, calcium, selenium, iodine, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein.
Why is Faroese salmon so good?
The Faroe Islands are located in the Northeast Atlantic where strong ocean currents make for some of the cleanest waters and marine environment for salmon to thrive. Because of this perfect ecosystem, Faroese salmon is some of the best tasting salmon you will found anywhere in the world. I have included some of my favorite salmon recipes below.
Why do Faroe Islanders eat salmon?
Faroe Islanders have been harvesting salmon over generations. This is a real testament to sustainable agriculture, and it helps support communities who value these traditional legacies. If you love to cook with salmon, it’s worth sourcing these superior tasting, sustainable fish from the cold waters of the Faroe Islands.
Where can you taste salmon from the Faroe Islands?
The sushi bar Etika in Tórshavn is a good place to taste salmon from the Faroe Islands. If you are a salmon lover, you are going to love to visit the Faroe Islands. There are several places where you can taste the delicious salmon, including restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores.
What do salmon eat in the Faroe Islands?
Because salmon from the Faroe Islands are able to roam freely in sizable contained environments, their diet is natural, rather than controlled. They feast on capelin, herring, and eel. These nutrient rich foods not only nourish them, but it also helps them develop layers of healthy fats.