179: James Arthur Smith - Is Regenerative Aquaculture the Future of Seafood? | Dr. Anthony Gustin

We need to cultivate fish in multitrophic, healthy environments so we can build sustainable solutions to scale & meet demand while protecting our natural resources. - James Arthur Smith Share on X

The commercial seafood industry tells us that farm-raised fish should be shunned in favor of wild-caught. But that’s like a hunter’s association saying everyone should eat wild game because there’s no such thing as a healthy farm.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, you know regenerative agriculture proves that’s not true. Not all farms are created equally, and the same goes for fish farms.

As I learned during my mind-blowing chat with James Arthur Smith, you can raise healthy, incredibly nutritious seafood that helps restore ecosystems.

He’s the founder and CEO of Seatopia, a carbon-neutral, certified mercury-safe, and antibiotic-free seafood subscription box.

He enlightened me about regenerative aquaculture, how it boosts biodiversity, and what it means to improve underwater habitats.

Done right, these healthy aquaculture projects are fish-attracting devices that make the environment cleaner and boost biodiversity rather than destroy it. - James Arthur Smith Share on X

James explains why you should dive deeper than the farm-raised vs. wild-caught question and shares what you should ask instead to ensure the healthiest seafood hits your plate.

In this episode, you’ll also discover

How Shamu and a steelhead trout breeding and hatchery program ignited James’ passion for regenerative aquaculture
When farm-raised is better than wild-caught fish
The dark side of commercial and line-caught fishing
How microplastics and heavy metals like mercury get into our water systems and move up the sealife food chain
What sushi-grade fish means and why sushi chefs don’t work with fresh, wild-caught fish
How the carbon footprints of farm-raised vs. wild-caught fish compare
Best practices for freezing, storing, and using frozen fish