Wild-Caught

Wild fish diets are diverse, leading to complex fatty acid, mineral, and flavor profiles that differ markedly from the standardized feed-based profiles of aquaculture fish. Wild sockeye salmon is distinctly deeper red (astaxanthin from crustaceans in natural diet) and higher in omega-3s than farmed Atlantic salmon, whose flesh color is standardized by adding synthetic astaxanthin to feed. Sustainability of wild-catch varies enormously — some small-scale, well-managed fisheries (MSC-certified Alaska pollock, Pacific albacore troll-caught) are among the most sustainable protein sources; others (IUU-caught yellowfin tuna, Southeast Asian slave-labor shrimp) are among the least sustainable. Eco-labeling and supply chain transparency are critical consumer tools for distinguishing between them.