a difference in the kitchen, is that the
combination of limited water flow, limited
exercise, and artificial feeds can affect the
texture and flavor of farmed fish. In taste
tests, farmed trout, salmon, and catfish are
perceived to be blander and softer than their
wild counterparts.
Modern aquaculture is still young, and
ongoing research and regulation will certainly
solve some of these problems. In the
meantime, the most environmentally benign
products of aquaculture are freshwater fish
and a few saltwater fish (sturgeon, turbot)
farmed on land, and molluscs farmed on
seacoasts. Concerned cooks and consumers
can get up-to-date information about the
health of fisheries and aquacultural practices
from a number of public interest groups,
including the Monterey Bay Aquarium in
California.
Farmed Fish and Shellfish