When it comes to wild-caught salmon, the climate impact largely stems from the fishing process itself. Fuel consumption of fishing vessels plays the major role, while the production and maintenance of fishing vessels and nets is of less importance. Interestingly, different fishing techniques can have vastly different fuel requirements. For instance, dragging a heavy net along the seabed (“bottom trawling”) consumes significantly more fuel than e.g. mid-water trawling, directly affecting the carbon footprint of the catch. Salmons are typically fished using gillnets, seine nets, or hook-and-line methods, leading to a lower impact and causing less disturbance of the marine life. While  fishing gear has less relevance for the climate impact, it can cause micro plastic pollution.

On the flip side, farmed salmon face their own set of challenges. The production of fish feed is a major factor, since their feed might contain fish oil or meal made from other fish or from soymeal  stemming from deforested areas. Energy use on fish farms is another consideration, with processes like water pumping, aeration, and temperature control all contributing to the carbon footprint. Interestingly, even fish waste has an impact, releasing emissions as it decomposes.

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🤔 Did You Know?

• Over 50% of fish consumed today comes from aquaculture! This shift has major implications for our oceans and climate.
• For wild salmon, scarcity can lead to longer fishing trips and higher emissions. It's a complex balance of supply and demand.
• The impact of farmed salmon varies greatly depending on feed efficiency and energy sources used in the farming process.

So, what can we do as consumers? Consider eating less seafood overall, and when you do indulge, avoid overfished species (WWF guides are a great resource!). 

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📢 Join inoqo's Upcoming Webinar!

Want to dive deeper into the world of sustainable seafood? Join our upcoming webinar on September 26th at 16:00 CET! We'll dive into the impact of wild caught fish vs farmed fish.

🔗 Register here: https://live.zoho.eu/ycoMBFyGO8

If you can’t make it to the live webinar, no worries—just register, and we’ll send you the recording via email a few days after the event. But if you can join live, we’d love to answer your questions in real-time!

In this first episode of the life-cycle assessment  series, you will learn:

• Farmed vs. Wild-Caught: Understand the differing climate impacts of farmed and wild-caught fish.
• LCA’s Role: Discover how Life Cycle Assessment provides the transparency needed for sustainable seafood choices.
• Methodology: Dive into the core of inoqo’s SaaS platform's methodology, which leverages LCA to comprehensively evaluate food and beverage products in a precise and scalable way.
• Practical Insights: Learn how retailers and brands can better communicate the sustainability of their seafood products.

This webinar is a must-attend for professionals working in sustainability or the food industry, who are keen on enhancing their understanding of the climate impacts of seafood, life-cycle analysis  methodology, and sustainable product transparency.

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Let's Collaborate on Your Scope 3 Emission Reduction!

At inoqo, we conduct product impact assessments for grocery retailers, F&B brands, and other food companies, calculating the climate, biodiversity, and social impact of all your food and beverage products. Reach out to us at hello@inoqo.com to explore how we can guide your business towards a low-impact future.