Market overview

Salmon is becoming more popular among consumers all the time, not only because of its flavor but also due to its numerous healthy properties.

Beneficial micronutrients contained in salmon play a major role in proper fetal development during pregnancy and in the growth of children. In addition, vitamins and elements contained in red fish help maintain a balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body, which is critical for bone health.

Fish has the smallest ecological footprint of all animal products. The carbon footprint of farmed salmon is 3.24 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of edible product. For chicken and pork, this figure is 3.52/kg and 3.44/kg, respectively; for cattle, it is 23.92 per kilogram of edible product.

In terms of the consumption of fresh water in the process of feed production and maintenance costs, salmon is also the leader in terms of environmental friendliness. A kilogram of edible salmon requires 2,000 liters of water, which is half of the consumption per kilogram of chicken, a third of the amount consumed in the production of pork and much less than the 15,000 liters of water necessary for the production of a kilogram of edible beef.

Populations of wild salmon species are at great risk due to overfishing. The growth and popularization of aquaculture are helping solve this problem. For example, aquaculture continues to account for more and more of the global supply of salmon, demonstrating a CAGR of 5.9% for the period 2011–2021.

Seventy percent of our planet is covered by water, but the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that only about 2% of the world’s food comes from oceans. The aquaculture market can change this ratio and contribute to a more balanced use of water and land resources.