The Conservation Fund pioneers sustainable fish farming in United States; institute develops recirculating aquaculture systems to reduce reliance on imported salmon

Too much of the salmon Americans eat travels thousands of miles from places like Chile or Norway to reach our dinner plates. It’s farmed and flown in as fresh fillets. But should our seafood really have more frequent flyer miles than we do? These days, we expect our food to be safe, nutritious, and more locally sourced. We shouldn’t have to pay the economic and environmental costs of importing fresh salmon when homegrown alternatives can provide the same benefits. 

Advancing Fish Farming in the U.S. 

At The Conservation Fund, we are working to advance that vision. Our Freshwater Institute, located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is home to an internationally recognized team of scientists, engineers, and technology experts who are pioneering sustainable methods for fish farming in the U.S. We’re working to advance technology known as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which grows fish in tanks where water is continuously filtered and recycled — similar to a greenhouse, but for fish.