Journalistic Nonprofit Uncovers 'Dirty Secret' Behind Farmed Fish Consumed in the U.S.
A five-year investigation by The Outlaw Ocean Project, a journalistic nonprofit led by former New York Times reporter Ian Urbina, has revealed concerning practices behind the farmed fish consumed in the United States. The probe, involving over 70 reporters, found that seafood can be linked to 'forced labor, rancid waste, [and] harmful chemicals.' The investigation highlights that while aquaculture (fish farming) has grown to supply over half of the seafood consumed globally, these farmed fish are largely fed with smaller wild fish. This practice means a significant portion—a fifth—of all fish pulled from the oceans is used for fishmeal and fish oil, not direct human consumption. Popular U.S. seafood like salmon and shrimp are predominantly imported from farms that rely on this fishmeal, ending up in supermarkets and restaurants across the country, including those on Capitol Hill.
