You might think buying farmed fish is the right choice for the planet. Many people believe it helps save wild fish populations. But a new series of investigations shows that this industry has some serious, hidden problems.

First, there is the issue of pollution. Farming fish in large nets often creates massive amounts of waste. This waste can pollute the surrounding water and harm the environment.

Then there is the feed. Fish on farms need to eat. To make this food, companies often take massive amounts of smaller, wild fish out of the ocean. This process is stripping local populations in places like Senegal of their food source. It takes fish right off the plates of people who rely on them to survive.

Beyond the environment, there are human costs. Recent reports have uncovered evidence of forced labor in the global supply chain. This means the fish you buy might have been processed by people who aren't being treated fairly or who are working against their will.

It is not just one company or one country, either. Reporters from the LA Times, The Boston Globe, CBC, and others have all tracked these issues across the globe. They found that what we are told is 'sustainable' often has a dangerous catch.

If you are planning on having salmon or other seafood tonight, you might want to look a little closer at where it came from. The industry is facing big questions about how it operates, and for now, the reality behind your dinner is much more complicated than a label suggests.

Source: Los Angeles Times