Wild vs. Farmed Salmon? Atlantic and Pacific salmon belong to the family Salmonidae, but… Pacific vs. Atlantic Salmon? All salmon are good sources of protein, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, niacin, riboflavin, calcium and selenium, which is a trace mineral that helps detoxify mercury. Farmed Atlantic salmon accounts for 85 percent of all of the world's farmed salmon. Each generation, however, appears to have a memory for spawning spots and traveling routes. But experts say eating any salmon is better than eating none at all. Comparing Atlantic salmon to Pacific salmon is like comparing Wonder Bread to freshly baked croissants. Sockeye Salmon-Spawning Phase The lifecycles of natural populations of Atlantic and Pacific salmon are similar. Pacific salmon was found to contain an average of .04 milligrams of mercury in every 2.2 pounds of fish. Wild-caught Pacific salmon are typically considered to be the healthiest salmon. Due to the surge in the availability of farm-raised salmon, it's less expensive than wild salmon. It’s Not Just Price: 5 Key Differences Between Atlantic Salmon and Wild Salmon. Atlantic Ocean species Atlantic salmonAtlantic ocean species belong to the genus Salmo. (Also, "Wild Alaskan Salmon isn't a type of salmon, it's just salmon that was caught in Alaska). Fresh wild Pacific salmon are available during this time. Atlantic salmon, on the other hand, are in the genus Salmo, typified by the species . And rightfully so, says a man who once hated salmon – more on that later. There are seven species of Pacific salmon, five of which live in North American waters: Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye. Amanda Davis. By Siddhi Camila Lama, MS ... Atlantic salmon and Pacific salmon both live in regions around the northern United States. Buying salmon can be confusing! First, if it says "Atlantic salmon", you should know that's almost a guarantee it was farm-raised. And we do get lots and lots of Atlantic sealmon here in the PNW–had some at lunch this week; was quite disappointing. They found mercury in every fish tested. Pacific salmon species are not reared in marine net pens in Washington. Sockeye is one of the five main species of Pacific salmon and is generally a wild-caught fish 1. It is in fact the opposite, with farm-raised Atlantic salmon actually being among the lowest of all salmon. Farmed Atlantic salmon are available year-round in fresh or frozen forms. Atlantic Ocean species. Atlantic Salmon vs Pacific Salmon: Species Differences. CTV News put wild Pacific salmon and farmed Atlantic salmon to the test. Atlantic salmon is typically farmed, while Pacific salmon species are primarily wild-caught. Pacific salmon, on the other hand, are often wild but can come from a farm. New research shows very low levels of mercury and other metals in Atlantic farmed and wild caught salmon. Studies have shown that escaped farmed salmon – in either the Pacific or Northwest Atlantic oceans – have a low survival rate in the wild because they are accustomed to being fed. Struggling with habitat loss and other problems, the few remaining wild Atlantic salmon hatch in freshwater streams, then travel to sea but return to freshwater to spawn. Salmon, whose Alaskan fishing season has recently begun, is the big kahuna of fish, both nutritionally and gastronomically.