Our salmon are wild-caught from pristine U.S. waters, and because of their short lifespan do not have an opportunity to absorb an appreciable amount of mercury.

 The troll-caught albacore in the North Pacific fishery are lower in mercury because these migratory fish are smaller (about 9 to 25 pounds) and younger (three to five years old) than the long-line caught older fish that reach up to 70 pounds after ten to fifteen years of growth. Naturally, the longer a fish lives and feeds, the more it bio-accumulates mercury.

While all fish caught along the West Coast are low in mercury compared to larger overseas fish, we have made it our quest to produce the safest possible product. We do this by packing only these smaller fish.

• Reduce inflammation throughout your body
• Keep your blood from clotting excessively
• Maintain the fluidity of your cell membranes
• Lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream
• Decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood clotting
• Inhibit thickening of the arteries by decreasing endothelial cells' production of a platelet-derived growth factor (the lining of the arteries is composed of endothelial cells)
• Increase the activity of another chemical derived from endothelial cells (endothelium-derived nitric oxide), which causes arteries to relax and dilate
• Reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis
• Reduce the risk of becoming obese and improve the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight and metabolism, and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells)
• Help prevent cancer cell growth

What conditions or symptoms indicate a need for more high Omega 3 foods?

• Depression
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Fatigue
• Dry, itchy skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Inability to concentrate
• Joint pain

Albacore Tuna, Salmon, flax seeds and walnuts are excellent food sources of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Research indicates that Omega 3s may be better absorbed from food than supplements. Norwegian researchers compared 71 volunteers' absorption of Omega 3s (EPA and DHA) from salmon, smoked salmon, cod (14 ounces of fish per week) or cod liver oil (3 teaspoons per day). Cooked salmon provided 1.2 grams of Omega 3s daily, while cod liver oil provided more than twice as much: 3 grams of Omega 3s per day.

Despite the fact that the salmon group got less than half the amount of Omega 3s as the cod liver oil group, blood levels of Omega 3s increased quite a bit more in those eating salmon than those taking cod liver oil. After 8 weeks, EPA levels had risen 129% and DHA rose 45% in those eating cooked salmon compared to 106% and 25%, respectively, in those taking cod liver oil.

What are the functions of Omega 3 fatty acids?

Every cell in our body is surrounded by a cell membrane composed mainly of fatty acids. The cell membrane allows the proper amounts of necessary nutrients to enter the cell, and ensures that waste products are quickly removed from the cell.

EPA Directly Anti-Inflammatory

A recently identified lipid (fat) product our bodies make from EPA, called resolvins, helps explain how this Omega 3 fat provides anti-inflammatory effects on our joints and improves blood flow.

Resolvins, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in animal studies, are made from EPA by our cellular enzymes, and work by inhibiting the production and regulating the migration of inflammatory cells and chemicals to sites of inflammation. Unlike anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and the COX-2 inhibitors, the resolvins our bodies produce from EPA do not have negative side effects on our gastrointestinal or cardiovascular systems.

(source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=84)

The US currently does not have an organic standard or certification for seafood.  

Wild Planet follows the guidelines of Eco- conscious organizations such as Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, Fish Wise, Sea Choice, and Blue Ocean Institute and in all cases Wild Planet products fall into the Green/Best Choice category for all organizations.

Unfortunately, there is no US sardine or tuna cannery capable of processing our volume requirements. If there were, the cost of production would also greatly increase the retail price beyond the reach of families sourcing their groceries in mass market stores. Our goal is to make US sourced sustainable seafood choices mainstream and thus have a greater impact on fishery harvest practices for the long-term good of ocean conservation.

We have elected to process our 5oz cans of albacore and skipjack tuna as well as our sardines in a highly respected partner facility in Vietnam. This facility offers state-of-the-art canning expertise in an immaculately clean, accredited environment that produces higher quality finished products than any cannery we have seen in the US.