Food Bullying Podcast
Fish farming, fear, and your food: Episode 114
Farm-raised fish are safe โ and here’s why you should eat more of them
Is wild-caught fish actually safer, more nutritious, or better for the environment than farm-raised? The short answer, according to someone who has spent over 40 years raising fish, is no.
Mike Freeze is the owner of Keo Fish Farm in Arkansas โ a 1,000-acre operation and the world’s largest producer of hybrid striped bass fingerlings. He’s a conservationist, an environmentalist, a naturalist, and a former commissioner on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. He joined the Food Bullying Podcast to make a clear-eyed case for farm-raised fish, country-of-origin labeling, and why Americans need to eat more seafood regardless of where it comes from.
His bottom line: the oceans are being fished at maximum sustainable levels. If seafood consumption in the United States is going to increase โ and for public health reasons, it should โ farmed fish is the only way to get there.
The farm-raised vs. wild-caught myth
The U.S. imports roughly 90% of the seafood consumed domestically, and the bulk of that is farm-raised fish from other countries. The perception that wild-caught is inherently superior isn’t supported by the science โ and it may be causing consumers to skip fish altogether rather than choose a more affordable farmed option that meets the same FDA recommended guidelines.
Freeze’s argument for farm-raised fish comes down to a simple advantage: you know exactly what those fish have eaten their entire lives. The feed is government-inspected, freshness-tested, and formulated to meet specific nutritional targets. Wild fish, by contrast, could have consumed anything, anywhere. Both are safe โ but “wild” is not a synonym for “pure.”
What farm-raised fish actually eat โ and why omega-3s hold up
Feed composition varies significantly by species. Catfish diets have evolved to the point where they contain no wild fish meal at all โ entirely plant-based, which reduces environmental impact. Hybrid striped bass, being carnivorous, still require a high-protein diet with fish meal content, similar to trout. Because of that fish meal component, the omega-3 content of Keo’s farm-raised hybrid striped bass is broadly comparable to wild-caught fish of similar species.
For dietitians working with patients on omega-3 intake, the message is straightforward: don’t let the farm-raised label be a reason to avoid fish. The nutritional profile, particularly for species raised on quality feed in well-managed U.S. operations, holds up.
Water quality on a fish farm: what the EPA found
One of the most persistent misconceptions about aquaculture is that farmed fish are raised in poor water conditions. Freeze addresses this directly.
Keo Fish Farm operates under an EPA blanket permit for earthen pond production. When the EPA conducted a comprehensive study on water quality in earthen pond fish operations, the results were strong โ in part because good water quality isn’t optional. If oxygen levels drop, fish stop feeding and growing. Stressed fish don’t gain weight. Fish that don’t gain weight can’t be sold. The farmer’s economic interest and the fish’s welfare are entirely aligned.
The farm takes oxygen readings continuously during summer months and uses mechanical aerators at night when warm water holds less dissolved oxygen. Each pond functions as a living ecosystem โ bacteria in the sediment break down organic material, plankton produces oxygen, and the system is actively managed to stay in balance. The farm rarely discharges water into the surrounding environment, capturing rainwater โ Arkansas receives 40 to 60 inches annually โ to top off ponds as needed.
Antibiotics in fish farming: the real picture
The aquaculture industry faces the same antibiotic misconceptions as beef, pork, and poultry. The reality in U.S. fish farming is more constrained than in any other livestock sector: the FDA has approved only four or five compounds for treating fish, and only one or two antibiotics โ which are rarely used in practice.
Keo Fish Farm has maintained a disease-free inspection record for over 30 years, with twice-yearly inspections meeting OIE (Office of International Epizootics) standards โ the international equivalent of the FDA for animal health. That record is a business requirement: without it, they cannot legally ship fish across state lines or to other countries.
Preventing disease through biosecurity is far more economical than treating it. Fish from outside water sources are not permitted unless they originate from the farm itself. The incentive structure strongly favors prevention over treatment.
Why country of origin matters when buying fish
Not all fish imported into the U.S. are raised under comparable safety standards. Freeze is direct about this: some countries permit compounds in fish production that are known carcinogens and are outright illegal in the United States. The concern isn’t necessarily getting acutely ill โ it’s long-term exposure to contaminants that U.S. regulatory oversight is specifically designed to prevent.
The seafood industry has embraced country of origin labeling (COOL), which requires every package of fresh or frozen fish sold in the U.S. to identify its country of origin. Use it.
Freeze’s country-of-origin framework, based on phytosanitary standards:
- High confidence: United States, Norway, Chile โ stringent standards, closely regulated
- Use caution: Research the specific country’s aquaculture regulations before purchasing
- Significant concern: China โ Freeze notes that even affluent Chinese consumers express hesitation about domestically produced fish due to uncertainty about government oversight
The environmental case for eating more farmed fish
Fish have a better feed-to-flesh conversion ratio than any land-based protein, including chicken. Raising fish requires fewer inputs per pound of protein produced โ a straightforward environmental argument that rarely gets made in the sustainability conversation.
Keo Fish Farm also provides substantial wildlife habitat. Shorebirds and migratory species use the ponds regularly, and Audubon groups visit to observe them. The operation’s biggest predation challenge โ double-crested cormorants, which can consume a pound of fish per day each and arrive in flocks of 2,000 โ is managed through federally permitted harassment and a tightly limited lethal take for habituated birds that won’t scare away. It’s a genuine conservation challenge that comes with operating outdoor ponds in a migratory corridor.
Freeze’s philosophy on stewardship is worth noting: farmers make their living from the land and water. They have more reason than most to take care of it.
What to look for at the fish counter
Freeze’s practical guidance for consumers and dietitians advising patients:
- Check the country of origin label โ it’s required on all fresh and frozen fish in the U.S.
- Prioritize U.S.-raised or U.S.-caught fish when possible, or fish from countries with comparable regulatory standards
- Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide as a starting point for species and production method ratings โ the aquaculture industry actively works with that program to improve ratings
- Don’t let the farm-raised label drive the decision โ the more important question is where it was raised and under what regulatory framework
- Eat more fish, full stop. The health benefits are well-documented and Americans fall significantly short of recommended consumption levels
Want to connect patients and consumers with the real story of how their food is produced? Michele Payn speaks to agricultural organizations, agribusinesses, and dietitian associations on food bullying, consumer trust, and the science behind modern farming. Book Michele to speak โ
Antibiotics in fish farming: the real picture
The aquaculture industry faces the same antibiotic misconceptions as beef, pork, and poultry. The reality in U.S. fish farming is more constrained than in any other livestock sector: the FDA has approved only four or five compounds for treating fish, and only one or two antibiotics โ which are rarely used in practice.
Keo Fish Farm has maintained a disease-free inspection record for over 30 years, with twice-yearly inspections meeting OIE (Office of International Epizootics) standards โ the international equivalent of the FDA for animal health. That record is a business requirement: without it, they cannot legally ship fish across state lines or to other countries.
Preventing disease through biosecurity is far more economical than treating it. Fish from outside water sources are not permitted unless they originate from the farm itself. The incentive structure strongly favors prevention over treatment.
Why country of origin matters when buying fish
Not all fish imported into the U.S. are raised under comparable safety standards. Freeze is direct about this: some countries permit compounds in fish production that are known carcinogens and are outright illegal in the United States. The concern isn’t necessarily getting acutely ill โ it’s long-term exposure to contaminants that U.S. regulatory oversight is specifically designed to prevent.
The seafood industry has embraced country of origin labeling (COOL), which requires every package of fresh or frozen fish sold in the U.S. to identify its country of origin. Use it.
Freeze’s country-of-origin framework, based on phytosanitary standards:
- High confidence: United States, Norway, Chile โ stringent standards, closely regulated
- Use caution: Research the specific country’s aquaculture regulations before purchasing
- Significant concern: China โ Freeze notes that even affluent Chinese consumers express hesitation about domestically produced fish due to uncertainty about government oversight
The environmental case for eating more farmed fish
Fish have a better feed-to-flesh conversion ratio than any land-based protein, including chicken. Raising fish requires fewer inputs per pound of protein produced โ a straightforward environmental argument that rarely gets made in the sustainability conversation.
Keo Fish Farm also provides substantial wildlife habitat. Shorebirds and migratory species use the ponds regularly, and Audubon groups visit to observe them. The operation’s biggest predation challenge โ double-crested cormorants, which can consume a pound of fish per day each and arrive in flocks of 2,000 โ is managed through federally permitted harassment and a tightly limited lethal take for habituated birds that won’t scare away. It’s a genuine conservation challenge that comes with operating outdoor ponds in a migratory corridor.
Freeze’s philosophy on stewardship is worth noting: farmers make their living from the land and water. They have more reason than most to take care of it.
What to look for at the fish counter
Freeze’s practical guidance for consumers and dietitians advising patients:
- Check the country of origin label โ it’s required on all fresh and frozen fish in the U.S.
- Prioritize U.S.-raised or U.S.-caught fish when possible, or fish from countries with comparable regulatory standards
- Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide as a starting point for species and production method ratings โ the aquaculture industry actively works with that program to improve ratings
- Don’t let the farm-raised label drive the decision โ the more important question is where it was raised and under what regulatory framework
- Eat more fish, full stop. The health benefits are well-documented and Americans fall significantly short of recommended consumption levels
Want to connect patients and consumers with the real story of how their food is produced? Michele Payn speaks to agricultural organizations, agribusinesses, and dietitian associations on food bullying, consumer trust, and the science behind modern farming. Book Michele to speak โ
