An extensive review of human health benefits from consuming farmed or wild fish with special reference to gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Abstract

In public, there is a significant concern regarding the safety and quality of farmed fish that poses problems for fish farmers in marketing. There is widespread recognition that farmed fish are less healthy than their wild equivalent, mostly attributed to unhealthy farm conditions or the ingredients used in artificial diets for aquaculture. However, the nutritional quality of farmed -or wild-caught fish may differ based on regional variation or a cultural environment's complex aspects. Whether farmed or wild fish provide better product quality is a long-standing matter for consumer preferences and marketing. Information was collected from a wide range of references through an extensive literature review, and detailed evaluations were made on the health levels of cultured fish and natural fish in human consumption. Therefore, the present study provides an extensive review to address the differences in the nutritional contribution of farmed and wild fish for human consumers. Addressing the questions arising from consumers’ concerns will undoubtedly support farmers in their challenging marketing efforts.