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Farmed Arctic char » Farmed Arctic char

Iwana (sushi name)

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Safe for the environment - enjoy often!

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Details About Farmed Arctic char

a.k.a. Salvelinus alpinus, alpine char, lake char

Health Details

  • Adults and children can safely eat more than 4 meals per month
  • Low contaminant levels
  • High in heart-healthy omega-3s

More about seafood and health »

Eco Details

  • This member of the salmon family is an environmentally friendly alternative to farmed salmon.
  • Char are mostly raised in tanks and raceways onshore, unlike salmon which are generally raised in open netpens in coastal waters.
  • Onshore systems discharge less pollution and are much less likely to let fish and parasites escape than netpens.

More About Farmed Arctic char

Arctic char are closely related to salmon and trout. They have a circumpolar distribution around the Arctic Ocean, and many landlocked populations exist in lakes in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere

Capture Methods

Farmed char are predominantly grown in land-based systems that utilize tanks or raceways. Wild char is caught in stationary nets.

Buying & Eating Guide

Recipes

This guide is produced in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Banner image from "Endangered Ocean" © 2007 Marian Osher.