Fish Shouldn’t Need to Fly - The Conservation Fund
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Fish Shouldn’t Need to Fly
February 14, 2025
Fish Shouldn’t Need to Fly
Brian Vinci
Freshwater Institute Director
Too much of the salmon Americans eat travels thousands of miles from places like Chile or Norway to reach our dinner plates. It’s farmed and flown in as fresh fillets. But should our seafood really have more frequent flyer miles than we do? These days, we expect our food to be safe, nutritious,
and
more locally sourced. We shouldn’t have to pay the economic and environmental costs of importing fresh salmon when homegrown alternatives can provide the same benefits.
Advancing Fish Farming in the U.S.
At The Conservation Fund, we are working to advance that vision. Our Freshwater Institute, located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is home to an internationally recognized team of scientists, engineers, and technology experts who are pioneering sustainable methods for fish farming in the U.S. We’re working to advance technology known as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which grows fish in tanks where water is continuously filtered and recycled — similar to a greenhouse, but for fish.
Photo credit: Sam Levitan
Our team has pioneered technologies that minimize water use and maximize waste capture to support healthy fish. These innovations have been implemented in fish farms across New York, Wisconsin, Florida, and beyond.
So why isn’t more fish being farmed this way in the U.S.? Aquaculture, like other forms of farming, is a complex and challenging process. Advancing the industry requires strong relationships, time, and impactful research. To this end, the Freshwater Institute has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and private sector partners, working together to make aquaculture more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective.
The Conservation Fund has been at the forefront of this movement for more than 30 years, working toward a future where more fish are farmed within the U.S., and we are less reliant on imports for quality seafood. While there’s still seafood out there with more frequent flyer miles than you, things are changing. As more consumers support sustainable seafood, the industry is evolving. Freshwater Institute is helping lead that change.
Photo credit: Sam Levitan
Helping Communities
Thanks to careful planning and generous support from donors, our research efforts are also helping to feed those in need. Through partnerships with local food banks like Mountaineer Food Bank and DC Central Kitchen, the fish from our research efforts doesn’t go to waste. We’re donating the fish that is ready to harvest to provide meals and culinary training to communities in need.
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