Responsibly farmed salmon is one of the most nutrient-rich foods contributing protein, healthy omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals to global human diets, while minimizing environmental impact.
Through collaboration, GSI members are committed to driving advancements in the salmon farming that support healthier and more sustainable diets and food systems.
In this section of the Sustainability Report, we explore how farmed salmon is a better choice for people and planet. By "better," we mean measurable performance across two areas: environmental impact and nutrition. We look at factors like feed efficiency, carbon footprint, and others, as well as how it compares to other animal-based proteins. In the nutrient-rich section, we break down the nutritional components of farmed salmon and how they contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.
By many measures farmed salmon is one of the most sustainable animal proteins available. A common way to measure environmental impact in the food producing sector is to gauge how efficiently an animal can turn its food into protein, or what the industry calls feed-conversion ratio. Farm-raised fish have one of the lowest feed-conversion ratios and farmed salmon on average need 1.1 to 1.5 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of body mass. In addition, farmed salmon have a low carbon footprint, use less freshwater, and use less land than land-based animal sectors.
Navigate through the sections to reveal a series of charts and graphs containing up-to-date referenced global data.
What is Global Production?
Global production of farmed salmon and livestock primary products, measured in tonnes for the year 2024.
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What is Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by the production of a product. Carbon footprint is measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2eq) per typical serving (40 g) of edible protein of the product. Data are median values.
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What is Land Use?
The amount of land needed to produce 100 g of edible protein.
What is Feed Conversion Ratio?
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) measures the productivity of different protein production methods. It demonstrates the kilograms (kg) in feed need to increase the animal’s bodyweight by 1kg. A lower FCR represents a more efficient use of feed resources.
What is Protein Retention?
Protein retention describes the gain in edible protein as a percentage of the protein intake from food. It is calculated as a percentage (grams protein in edible portion / grams protein in feed).
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What is Calorie Retention?
Calorie retention describes the gain in edible calories as a percentage of the calorie intake from feed. It is calculated as a percentage (calories in edible portion / calories in feed).
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What is Edible Yield?
Edible yield is calculated by dividing edible meat by total body weight.
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Within this section of GSI’s Sustainability Report, you can learn more about the nutrient profile and food safety information of farmed salmon.
Farmed salmon is a nutrient-dense food that provides complete protein, including all essential amino acids, and contributes important nutrients found naturally in fish and seafood. These include the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, as well as several important vitamins and minerals such as vitamins D, B12, and B6.1
Around the world, expert bodies and national dietary guidelines recommend eating fish and seafood, including salmon. These recommendations reflect a growing body of nutrition research on the role fish and seafood can play in healthy, balanced eating patterns across life stages.2,3,4
For example, in the U.S., the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend “low-mercury, omega-3-rich seafood” options, including salmon.4
Similarly, the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations advise three servings, or about 300 grams to 450 grams, of fish per week, including at least 200 grams of fatty fish such as salmon due to its omega-3 content.5
Macronutrients Found in Salmon
Macronutrients, which include protein, fat and carbohydrates, are nutrients needed in larger amounts to support a healthy diet.
Salmon is a good source of protein and also provides healthy fats*, like omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Found primarily in seafood, EPA and DHA are well-recognized nutrients and remain a focus of research for their contributions to nutrition across life stages.1,2
An average 3.5 oz. (100 g) serving of raw, farmed Atlantic salmon contains the following macronutrients:
| Nutrient | 3.5 oz. (100 g) salmon fillet**2 | Daily Reference Value – (DRV***)3 | %DRV‡ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 210 | 2,000 | 10% |
| Protein (g) | 20 | 50 | 41% |
| Fat (g) | 13 | 78 | 17% |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 55 | 300 | 18% |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (g) | 4 | No DRV established | n/a |
| Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) (g) | 0.15 | 1.6 (men)****5 1.1 (women)****5 | 9% 13% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) (g) | 1.97 | No DRV established | n/a |
| Omega-6 fatty acids (g) | 1.09 | No DRV established | n/a |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids (g) | 4 | No DRV established | n/a |
| Saturated fatty acids (g) | 3 | 20 | 15% |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 0 | 275 | n/a |
* Fatty acid profiles in farmed salmon can vary by region and production practices, including feed. Values shown are based on USDA FoodData Central and may not reflect all products or producing regions.
** Raw farmed Atlantic salmon.
*** Daily Reference Value–set of numerical quantities developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the dietary intake of energy-containing macronutrients. They show you the maximum amount of calories and nutrients you should eat in a day based on the reference caloric intake of 2,000 calories for an adult.
‡ A DRV of 20% or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high and of 5% or less is considered low.4
**** Established adequate intake for the omega-3 fatty acid ALA.
Micronutrients Found in Farmed Salmon
Micronutrients, often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are essential nutrients required in smaller amounts as part of the diet. They play important roles in normal growth, development and everyday body functions, and are primarily obtained through food.1
Farmed salmon is a good source of vitamin D and provides a range of other micronutrients including B vitamins, vitamin E, phosphorus, selenium, choline, potassium and riboflavin.
An average 3.5 oz. (100 g) serving of raw, farmed Atlantic salmon contains the following micronutrients:
| Micronutrient | 3.5 oz (100 g) salmon serving*2 | Reference Daily Intake – (RDI)**3 | DV (%)4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (µg RAE) | 60 | 900 | 6% |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 4 | 90 | 4% |
| Calcium (mg) | 10 | 1,300 | -- |
| Iron (mg) | 0.3 | 18 | 2% |
| Vitamin D (includes D2 + D3) (µg) | 11 | 20 | 60% |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) (mg) | 3.6 | 15 | 25% |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) (µg) | 0.5 | 120 | — |
| Thiamin (B1) (mg) | 0.21 | 1.2 | 20% |
| Riboflavin (B2) (mg) | 0.16 | 1.3 | 10% |
| Niacin (B3) (mg) | 8.67 | 16 | 50% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) (mg) | 1.6 | 5 | 30% |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) (mg) | 0.64 | 1.7 | 40% |
| Biotin (B7) (µg) | 0 | 30 | -- |
| Folate (B9) (µg) | 25 | 400 | 6% |
| Vitamin B12 (µg) | 3.23 | 2.4 | 140% |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 240 | 1,250 | 20% |
| Iodine (µg) | 0 | 150 | -- |
| Magnesium (mg) | 30 | 420 | 6% |
| Zinc (mg) | 0.4 | 11 | 4% |
| Selenium (µg) | 24 | 55 | 45% |
| Copper (mg) | 0.05 | 0.9 | 6% |
| Manganese (mg) | 0.01 | 2.3 | -- |
| Chromium (µg) | 0 | 35 | -- |
| Chloride (mg) | 0 | 2,300 | -- |
| Potassium (mg) | 360 | 3400 (men)5 2600 (women)5 | 11% 14% |
| Choline (mg) | 80 | 550 bv | 15% |
* Raw, farmed Atlantic salmon.
** Reference Daily Intake - the daily intake level of a nutrient that is considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements of 97–98% of healthy adults and children > 4 years in every demographic in the United States.
Protein Found in Farmed Salmon
Farmed salmon is a good source of complete protein. Protein is found in animal and plant foods and is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The body uses 20 different amino acids to function properly. While some can be produced by the body, nine cannot, so we must get them from food. These are called essential amino acids.1
A 3.5 oz. (100 g) serving of farmed salmon provides all 9 ‘essential’ amino acids (bolded in the table, below), which makes it a complete protein.2
A 3.5 oz. (100 g) serving of raw, farmed Atlantic salmon contains the following amino acids and total protein:
| 3.5 oz. (100 g) salmon fillet*2 | Daily Reference Value – (DRV)**3 | %DRV‡4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein (g) | 20 | 50 | 40% |
| Amino acid (g) | 3.5 oz. (100g) salmon fillet*2 |
|---|---|
| Glutamic acid | 2.8 |
| Aspartic acid | 2.0 |
| Lysine | 1.9 |
| Leucine | 1.6 |
| Alanine | 1.3 |
| Arginine | 1.2 |
| Valine | 1.1 |
| Isoleucine | 1.0 |
| Glycine | 1.0 |
| Serine | 0.9 |
| Threonine | 0.9 |
| Phenylalanine | 0.9 |
| Tyrosine | 0.8 |
| Proline | 0.7 |
| Methionine | 0.6 |
| Histidine | 0.6 |
| Cystine | 0.2 |
| Tryptophan | 0.2 |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.04 |
* Raw, farmed Atlantic salmon.
** Daily Reference Value–set of numerical quantities developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the dietary intake of energy-containing macronutrients. They show the maximum amount of calories and nutrients healthy individuals should eat in a day based on the reference caloric intake of 2,000 calories for an adult.
‡ A DRV of 20% or more of a nutrient per serving is considered high and of 5% or less is considered low.3
Omega-3s in Farmed Salmon
There are three main omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).1
ALA is found in plant sources such as seeds and nuts but EPA and DHA are unique to seafood. The best dietary sources of EPA and DHA are found in oily fish such as salmon.1
Emerging research is exploring the role of EPA and DHA in brain health, neurodevelopment and mental wellbeing.1-4
EPA and DHA are widely recognized omega-3 fatty acids for their role in supporting heart health.1,3-4
ALA, EPA, and DHA are all essential fatty acids, meaning that they must be obtained from the diet. ALA can be converted into EPA and then to DHA, but the conversion is very limited. Consuming EPA and DHA directly from seafood particularly oily fish such as salmon is a great way to increase levels of these fatty acids in the body, especially when considering the other nutrients that salmon provides.1,5
Food Safety of Farmed Salmon
Farmed salmon is a safe, nutrient-dense choice to increase consumption of important nutrients while limiting exposure to environmental toxins.
Farmed salmon provides complete protein and essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. At the same time, you may have also heard about environmental contaminants in seafood. Here we shine a light on the topic of food safety, including pollutants like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins, and why farmed salmon has a low level of such contaminants.
In seafood, consumers are often most concerned with mercury, PCBS, and dioxins; however, farmed salmon has low levels of these chemicals.
Mercury
Mercury is present in nearly all fish and shellfish. Salmon (wild or farmed) generally has lower mercury levels than most other fish species and for this reason is listed in the "best choices" for fish consumption by the FDA.1 In fact, health and dietary authorities across the globe recommend we eat more fish, such as salmon, with high levels of healthy fatty acids (e.g. EPA and DHA) and low levels of mercury.2-4
Dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, and heavy metals
Although many fish including salmon are commonly associated with dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs, recent data indicates that the concentrations of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, and arsenic in farmed Atlantic salmon are lower than wild caught.5 A joint United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UN FAO) World Health Organization (WHO) report also concluded that the health benefits associated with eating fish outweigh the potential risks when consumed within the recommended levels.6
Food safety priorities
Food safety experts like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have developed strict protocols for monitoring dioxins in food, including in animal feed, to reduce our dietary exposure to these environmental contaminants. These guidelines are regularly reviewed and updated to provide guidance on what is safe and healthy to eat.
Experts agree that the health benefits of eating fish, including farmed and wild salmon, far outweigh the possible risks from contaminants.7-9
GSI members continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of farmed salmon and find ways to reduce the likelihood of contaminants in both fish and the feed they consume.
If you are ever unsure, refer to dietary guidelines published by governmental organizations such as the U.S. FDA and EFSA.U.S.-based Seafood Nutrition Partnership also has a number of useful resources on its webpage.
Nutrition Science
How do the nutrients that farmed salmon provides fit into the broader picture of human health?
Farmed salmon provides a variety of important nutrients. Among these, EPA and DHA, two omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in fish and seafood, are some of the most widely studied.
Heart health is one of the clearest areas of scientific consensus. Governing bodies around the world have recognized that EPA and DHA support heart health as part of a healthy, balanced diet.1-4
Emerging research is continuing to explore how fish, seafood and omega-3 fatty acids fit into healthy eating patterns across life stages. Studies have examined:
- Cardiovascular health: Relationships between fish and seafood intake, EPA and DHA, and markers such as blood pressure and triglycerides.2,5
- Pregnancy and early life nutrition: Seafood intake during pregnancy and early life development, including cognitive development.5,6
- Cognitive health and healthy aging: The role fish, seafood and omega-3 fatty acids may play in cognitive health as people age.2,5
- Mental health: Scientists are investigating omega-3 fatty acid consumption and areas of mental health, including mood and depression.7
- Inflammatory pathways: How omega-3 fatty acids interact with inflammatory processes in the body.8
While the science continues to evolve, this research contributes to the broader evidence base behind expert recommendations to include salmon as part of a healthy, balanced diet.