Today, Explained Fishy business
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Dec 4, 2025 
Kenny Torella, a senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect, dives into the murky waters of fish farming, shedding light on its rapid rise and the ethical dilemmas it poses. He discusses the popularity of salmon and the environmental concerns surrounding open-net cages and pollution. Kenny reveals the reality of hatchery conditions, where overcrowding and violent practices occur. He argues for recognizing fish consciousness and suggests consumers opt for less popular species like tilapia while promoting sustainable seafood practices. A deep look into our fishy food system!
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Rapid Aquatic Domestication
- Fish farming scaled extremely fast, domesticating many species within decades rather than millennia.
- This rapid industrialization created major consequences for food security, animal welfare, and the environment.
Fish Farming Dominates Meat Production
- Today roughly nine out of every ten farmed animals are fish, with around 760 billion fish and crustaceans raised annually.
- Salmon production alone reaches almost 3 million metric tons per year, with a large share exported to the U.S.
Ocean Cages Mirror Factory Farms
- Salmon are raised in floating open-net cages offshore, concentrating animals and waste like in industrial pig farms.
- Farmers use heavy pesticides and antibiotics that release chemicals harmful to surrounding marine life.