Impact of Farmed Salmon on Wild Populations

A significant portion of salmon consumed in America is sourced from Norway, predominantly from fish farms where over a million salmon can be held in a single pens. However, the escape of farmed salmon poses dire ecological risks, as these fish breed with the native wild salmon population, leading to detrimental genetic changes. Experts indicate that these interbreeding events are resulting in weakened wild salmon, which are now exhibiting traits that make them easier prey for predators, likening their offspring to 'Homer Simpsons of salmon.' The wild salmon stock in Norway has halved over the last twenty years, raising alarms over the long-term effects on biodiversity.