While many popular species are farmed (like salmon, tuna, barramundi), fish like sardines, anchovies, herring, pilchards, and whitebait are typically wild-caught and not commercially farmed in Australia due to their biology, making them great, sustainable, briny choices. You'll also find many native Australian fish such as Gummy Shark, Hapuku, and certain Mackerels, or smaller species like Hussar, predominantly wild-caught, but checking GoodFish ensures you know what's local and sustainable.
The following fish have low mercury levels and are also high in omega-3 fatty acids:
Cod. Cod is one of the UK's favourite fish, often found in fish and chips dinners. It's a cold-water fish that is generally wild-caught rather than farmed.
- All non-tinned salmon sold in Australia is farmed other than the 100% wild sockeye salmon from The Canadian Way. The Canadian Way also sells wild tuna, halibut, and wild black cod, lobster, prawns, scollops, salmon roe and smoked salmon (all 100% wild).
The Snapper is one of the most popular food fishes in Australia. Snapper aquaculture has become an important industry in recent years. At Pisces Marine Aquaculture, fish are reared in a 10 m deep, nylon-netted enclosure offshore near Port Stephens, New South Wales.
Coles and Woolworths are continuing to source and sell farmed salmon from Macquarie Harbour, where operations are having a catastrophic impact on the endangered Maugean skate.
You won't see wild Atlantic salmon in the supermarkets as numbers are dangerously low. If you spot it in your local fishmongers or when at a restaurant, you should avoid it. Wild caught Pacific salmon (keta, red, pink) can often be found in tins, or occasionally in the fresh aisle as fillets.
The truth is, you can find both kinds at Aldi. The company sells value-pack packages of frozen wild-caught pink salmon filets (which make delicious baked salmon with burst tomatoes) along with cans of wild Alaskan pink salmon (which is one canned meat you should be eating).
These reports can be found on the ABARES website. The majority of Australian aquaculture production comes from high value species such as pearls, salmonids, tuna and oysters. In total, over 40 species are farmed commercially in Australia.
INGREDIENTS: Farmed Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) (Fish).
The unhealthiest fish to eat are typically large, predatory species high in mercury like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and imported tilefish, plus bluefin tuna, which are dangerous for brain/nerve health, especially for pregnant women and children; also, farmed salmon and some imported tilapia/catfish raise concerns for contaminants and antibiotics, while orange roughy and Atlantic cod are often cited for high mercury and overfishing/sustainability issues.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that to consume those higher amounts, children should only be fed fish from the “Best Choices” list that are even lower in mercury – these fish are anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, catfish, clams, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, mullet, oysters, plaice, pollock, salmon, ...
Globally, 99% of the fish sourced for Filet-O-Fish sandwiches come from sustainably managed, wild caught fisheries. (We're working to get that number up to 100%!) In the U.S., Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are made with 100% wild-caught Alaska Pollock that's also always sustainably sourced.
The best fish to buy in Australia depends on your preference, with popular choices including versatile Barramundi, Snapper, and Flathead, while King George Whiting & Pearl Perch are top-tier for flavour, and Blue-eye Trevalla offers a meaty, mild option; consider Tuna for steaks or Blue Swimmer Crab for ease, always checking with your fishmonger for the freshest, most sustainable catch like WA Dhufish or Coral Trout.
Is barramundi healthier than salmon? Salmon and barramundi are both great options as part of a healthy lifestyle! While barramundi has half the calories of Atlantic farmed salmon, both fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which play a vital role in brain and heart health.
6 of the Healthiest Fish to Eat
Farmed Seafood
We source from aquaculture operations that are third-party certified or independently verified. Accepted certifications are: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified; or. Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Farm Standard certified; or.
Sirena Tuna is made with only the highest quality ingredients, including our premium oil blends and high specification tuna. Our commitment to sustainability is paramount to our business: 100% of our tuna is pole and line caught.
Little Tin Co is reimagining the art of tinned seafood by creating delicious AUSTRALIAN SOURCED seafood products that can be enjoyed on their own, used to pimp a platter, or as a FLAVOUR BOMB in a variety of recipes.
To avoid unhealthy or unsustainable salmon, steer clear of most farmed Atlantic salmon from open net pens (especially from Chile, Canada, Norway, Scotland, or Tasmania due to pollution, disease, antibiotics, and contaminants like PCBs/PFAS) and wild-caught Atlantic salmon, which is overfished; instead, opt for sustainably-caught wild Pacific salmon (like Sockeye, Coho) or farmed salmon in closed-containment systems with certifications like ASC or BAP for healthier, planet-friendly choices, says Seafood Watch, GoodFish, and EatingWell.
Aldi can offer affordable seafood because it buys fresh and frozen fish in bulk, sells it for less, and has partnerships with multiple fisheries and farms.
Farmed salmon is usually lighter orange or pale pink. Fat lines: Farmed salmon often has thick, visible white fat lines. Wild-caught salmon often has finer lines and a leaner look. Texture: Wild salmon is firmer.
Find out if the salmon is wild-caught or farmed. If in doubt, it's probably farmed Atlantic salmon. Buy U.S. wild-caught salmon—only a tiny amount is red-rated (scroll down for more information). Buy wild-caught salmon from Canada, except Chinook or coho salmons caught on British Columbia, Canada's South Coast.
The Best Canned Salmon, According to Food Professionals
According to these savvy food professionals, the ultimate canned salmon brand is Wild Planet's Wild Sockeye Salmon. “I love canned salmon for its convenience and nutritional value and Wild Planet is my go-to for sustainable, wild-caught salmon,” says Gallagher.
I&J Wild Caught Red Sockeye Salmon Skin On 500g brings the best of the ocean straight to your plate. Responsibly sourced, our premium red sockeye salmon delivers a rich, flavourful experience with a delightfully tender texture, thanks to its intact, flavour-sealing skin.