Ocean Ranching

Ocean ranching combines the productivity of hatcheries with the low-cost feeding of the open ocean. Fish - Pacific salmon, red seabream, Japanese amberjack - are reared to juvenile size in hatcheries, then released. They grow in the wild on natural forage, then return to natal streams or aggregation sites to be caught. Japan pioneered the practice with yellowtail and red seabream. Alaska releases billions of salmon fry annually. Critics point to genetic dilution of wild stocks and potential ecological impacts.

Pink salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, red seabream, Japanese amberjack.