The most commonly used hormones are estrogen and progesterone, which accelerate the growth of salmon and increase their meat production.
Estrogen is a female sex hormone that stimulates the growth and maturation of the reproductive organs. Progesterone is another female sex hormone that helps prepare the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg.
The hormones are injected into young salmon, usually between 6 and 9 months of age. They are injected into the muscle or abdominal cavity of the salmon.
The use of hormones in salmon farming is controversial
Some environmental groups claim that the use of hormones can have negative effects on the environment because they can contaminate aquatic ecosystems. Other groups maintain that its use is safe and necessary to meet demand for salmon.
In Argentina, the use of hormones in salmon farming is permitted. However, companies that farm salmon must comply with a number of regulations to ensure that its use is safe and does not harm the environment.
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the use of hormones in salmon farming is widespread worldwide. By 2022, an estimated 70% of the world’s captive salmon will be raised using hormones.
The potential benefits of using hormones in salmon farming include:
- Accelerate the growth of salmon: Estrogen and progesterone can accelerate salmon growth by stimulating protein production and cell division. This can reduce cultivation time and costs.
- Increase Salmon Meat Production: Estrogen and progesterone can increase meat production in salmon by stimulating muscle growth. This can increase yields.
- Improve the quality of salmon meat: Estrogen and progesterone can improve the meat quality of salmon by increasing the proportion of omega-3 fat. This makes it more attractive to consumers.
Negative impact on the environment:
- Pollution: Hormones can contaminate aquatic ecosystems, which can also affect other fish and plant species. These can enter the environment through salmon waste, wastewater from salmon farms and accidental spills.
- Hormonal imbalances: Hormones can alter the natural hormone levels of other fish and plant species. This can lead to an imbalance in aquatic ecosystems, which can affect species survival and behavior.
- Endurance: Fish and plants can develop resistance to hormones. This means they may not be able to control the growth and development of these species as effectively.
Negative effects on human health:
- Disclosure to consumers: Hormones can be transferred to the consumer through salmon meat. This can have negative effects on human health, for example increasing the risk of cancer.
- Impairment of human hormonal processes: Hormones can interfere with human hormonal processes. This can lead to a range of health problems such as weight gain, infertility and cancer.
Diploma
The use of hormones in salmon farming is a controversial practice that carries both potential benefits and risks. It is important that consumers are informed of the potential risks of consuming hormone-treated salmon before deciding to purchase any type of salmon.
In addition to the potential benefits mentioned above, its use in salmon farming can also help reduce salmon mortality. Salmon farmed with hormones are more resistant to disease and harmful environmental influences. This can help salmon farming companies reduce their losses.
A University of California, Davis study found that salmon raised with hormones had a 25% lower mortality rate than salmon raised without hormones. The study also found that salmon farmed with hormones had a higher weight and higher omega-3 fat content.
These results suggest that deployment can be an effective tool to improve salmon production and reduce environmental risks. However, it is important that further studies are conducted to assess the potential risks of its use in salmon farming.