title: Not all salmon are created equal: life cycle assessment (LCA) of global salmon farming systems.
abstract: We present a global-scale life cycle assessment of a major food commodity, farmed salmon. Specifically, we report the cumulative energy use, biotic resource use, and greenhouse gas, acidifying, and eutrophying emissions associated with producing farmed salmon in Norway, the UK, British Columbia (Canada), and Chile, as well as a production-weighted global average. We found marked differences in the nature and quantity of material/energy resource use and associated emissions per unit production across regions. This suggests significant scope for improved environmental performance in the industry as a whole. We identify key leverage points for improving performance, most notably the critical importance of least-environmental cost feed sourcing patterns and continued improvements in feed conversion efficiency. Overall, impacts were lowest for Norwegian production in most impact categories, and highest for UK farmed salmon. Our results are of direct relevance to industry, policy makers, eco-labeling programs, and consumers seeking to further sustainability objectives in salmon aquaculture.
authors: School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. nathanpelletier@dal.ca
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Pelletier
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Tyedmers
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Sonesson
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Scholz
authors: Friederike
authors: F
authors: Ziegler
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Flysjo
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Kruse
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Cancino
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005398:Fisheries; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D038622:Internationality; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012474:Salmon / Q000254:growth & development*