Scottish salmon is renowned worldwide for its bright orange-pink coloring and rich, fatty texture However, not all Scottish salmon is created equal. There are two main types available – farmed and wild caught. But with both being labeled as “Scottish Salmon”, how can you tell if what you’re buying is wild or farmed?
An Overview of Scottish Salmon
Salmon hatch in the rivers of Scotland and spend most of their adult lives out at sea, only returning to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. The Atlantic salmon found in Scotland (Latin name Salmo salar) are the same species found across the north Atlantic ocean. They can grow up to 100 cm long and weigh up to 12 kg.
Wild salmon live their lives migrating across the ocean returning to their natal rivers in the Scottish highlands and islands every summer. Here anglers can catch wild salmon legally during the season. However, since populations of wild Atlantic salmon have declined significantly, fishing wild salmon is carefully regulated.
Farmed salmon are hatched and raised in marine pens along Scotland’s west coast islands and lochs. Scotland pioneered modern salmon farming methods, establishing the first salmon farm in the early 1970s. Now over 99% of Scottish salmon production is farmed.
Key Differences Between Farmed and Wild Salmon
While farmed and wild Scottish salmon are the same species there are some important differences in terms of appearance texture, taste and nutritional value
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Color – Farmed salmon tends to be paler pink, while wild salmon has a deeper orange-red hue. This is because wild salmon get their color from eating krill and shrimp. Farmed salmon are fed pellets with added pigments.
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Fat Content – Farmed salmon contains much higher levels of fat, around 13-15%. Wild salmon has a fat content of 5-8%.
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Omega-3s – Despite lower overall fat, wild salmon has higher levels of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
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Texture – The higher fat content makes farmed salmon richer and more buttery. Wild salmon has a leaner, firmer texture.
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Taste – Subtle differences in taste reflect the lower fat content of wild salmon. It has a “cleaner” flavor than farmed.
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Cost – Due to limited availability, wild salmon can cost up to double the price of farmed.
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Sustainability – Some concerns exist around the environmental impacts of salmon farming, such as parasites, pollution and escapees. Wild fisheries are strictly managed for sustainability.
How to Identify Wild vs Farmed Scottish Salmon
When buying whole salmon, there are a few ways to identify whether it is wild or farmed:
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Color – Look for the rich, dark orange-red color that is associated with wild salmon. Farmed is paler pink.
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Fat stripes – Wild salmon develops visible stripes of fat along the length of the fillet. Farmed salmon fat is more evenly distributed.
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Tail condition – Wild salmon have clean, undamaged tails. Farmed salmon often have worn, split tails.
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Harvest date – Wild salmon season is restricted to summer and autumn months. If sold out of season, it must be frozen wild salmon.
With pre-packaged fillets or smoked salmon, checking for certification labels can help identify wild salmon:
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Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – The blue MSC label indicates certified sustainable wild seafood. MSC certified Scottish salmon must be wild-caught.
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Organic – Organic standards do not permit salmon farming, so certified organic Scottish salmon must be wild.
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Friends of the Sea Wild – This sustainability certification is given only to wild-caught seafood.
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Alaskan Salmon – Salmon labeled as Alaskan (rather than Scottish) is always wild Pacific salmon.
Without one of these certifications on the label, it can be tricky to guarantee fillets or smoked salmon are wild. Your safest option is buying whole wild salmon.
Should You Buy Wild or Farmed Salmon?
Whether to opt for wild or farmed comes down to your priorities in terms of sustainability, nutrition, taste and budget. Here are some factors to consider:
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Farmed salmon is more affordable and widely available year-round. Wild salmon is limited by season and supply.
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Farmed salmon offers a richer, more buttery eating experience due to higher fat content.
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Wild salmon provides more beneficial omega-3s and a “cleaner” salmon flavor.
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Wild fisheries have stricter sustainability standards than some salmon farms.
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Improved regulations mean farmed Scottish salmon has less impact than salmon farmed in other countries.
With all this in mind, the best salmon depends on your needs. If buying out of season, farmed Scottish salmon is a good option. For a special meal, seek out peak season wild salmon for optimal flavor and nutrition. Beyond the label, let your preferences guide you to the right salmon, wild or farmed, for any occasion.
Figures on Scottish salmon
- In 2018, the production of Scottish salmon was approximately 150,000 tonnes. That is slightly lower than in the record year 2017;
- Scottish salmon is produced by about 12 farms that together have about 226 farms. These are mainly on the west coast, but also on Orkney and the Shetland Islands;
- In 2017, the salmon farms employed approximately 1,431 people, providing 10,000 jobs in rural areas of Scotland;
- Most of the salmon comes from salmon from farms located in fjords;
- Salmon is an important industry within Scotland with an export value of over £1 billion in 2019.
- Some of the salmon farms in Scotland are owned by Norwegian companies.
What is Scottish Salmon?
Scottish salmon is the same as Atlantic salmon. These can best be recognized by the indication of the Latin name ‘Salmo salar’. This species is called Scottish salmon because it is caught or farmed near Scotland.
So there are two types of Scottish salmon:
- Wild Scottish river salmon caught in Scottish waters;
- Farmed Scottish salmon from aquaculture.
How the truth about farmed salmon is being hidden
FAQ
Is all Scottish salmon wild caught?
Salmon is one of Scotland’s biggest food exports, second only to whiskey. Unfortunately, this booming industry comes with a cost. The salmon we buy across Britain typically comes not from wild fish but farms, many of them located off the coast of Scotland.
What is the difference between wild and Scottish salmon?
Typically, farm raised salmon will be lighter in color and contain more fat. Farm raised salmon is fed a controlled diet, which has a direct impact on the fish’s muscle and fat content. Wild salmon eat a diet of whatever they can find while swimming in the ocean, crustaceans mostly.
Is Scottish salmon genetically modified?
Scottish salmon are not genetically modified and the Scottish salmon sector remains opposed to the introduction of any such stocks.
Is Scottish salmon healthy?
Can you fish wild salmon in Scotland?
Salmon hatch in the rivers of Scotland and spend most of their lives at sea, only returning to the rivers to reproduce. You can fish for wild salmon during the Summer across the Scottish Highlands. Although licenses to fish wild salmon are quite expensive compared to other fish.
How many wild salmon have been caught in Scotland in 2019?
Salmon caught by anglers in Scottish waters have too seen massive reductions. In 2019, the reported amount of wild salmon was 47,515 – the 4th lowest number recorded. This follows the year before when the lowest ever number of Scottish wild salmon caught was recorded 37,196.
Where do wild Scottish salmon live?
Wild Scottish salmon spend longer out in the sea and will grow to be heavier and bigger. Both Atlantic and Scottish salmon are found in the Atlantic Ocean, although the Scottish salmon are more confined to the area around Scotland. Scottish salmon is farmed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Scotland.
How many salmon were caught in Scotland in 2023?
The provisional Scottish Government catch statistics for 2023 were released yesterday. These are the lowest catches reported for wild Atlantic salmon since records began in 1952, and signal that Scotland’s salmon and sea trout populations remain in a critical state. 33,023 wild Atlantic salmon and 21,907 sea trout were caught in 2023.
Is Scottish salmon ‘farmed’?
The fish is one of the UK’s biggest food exports and said to be worth more than £1bn a year to the economy. In supermarkets, the packaging shows pristine Scottish waters and projects an image of a clean and natural product. But look at the small print and you will see that all Scottish salmon is “farmed”.
Why is salmon so popular in Scotland?
Salmon is one of Scotland’s biggest food exports, second only to whiskey. Unfortunately, this booming industry comes with a cost. The salmon we buy across Britain typically comes not from wild fish but farms, many of them located off the coast of Scotland.