Crawfish: once you’ve tasted the freshest crawfish, it would be hard to enjoy ones that aren’t as fresh. It’s always best to buy live crawfish and have them prepared by the crawfish café right before your meal, as it’s the best way to ensure that you are getting the sweetest, tastiest delicacies. But did you know that you actually have two choices when it comes to where your crawfish is sourced?
Yes, you can choose between wild-caught crawfish or a farmed one. But which one is better? Read on to learn more so that you can make a better choice:
Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught Crawfish
More and more restaurant customers are ordering seafood instead of the usual meats. One of the reasons may be because they are deemed a healthier option. Also, the taste is incredibly amazing! But because of the increased demand for all types of seafood in the restaurant industry, some populations are starting to be endangered because of overfishing. As a result, many food establishments have decided to opt for farm-raised options as these are more sustainable.
Wild-Caught Fish
These are essentially any seafood harvested directly from their environment, whether it is from the ocean, river, or lake. The fishes and shellfishes that are caught in the wild never live in captivity.
Pros
Wild-caught seafood has more flavor, thanks to the diverse diet that the fishes have in their natural habitat. The meat of wild-caught fish is also leaner, as they are constantly moving to look for food. Leaner meat is considered healthier than fatty ones. Furthermore, their color is brighter because their diet also helps improve their coloring.
Cons
Wild-caught crawfish is not a sustainable option. The number of wild fish is getting smaller while the demand grows, which is already leading to some issues. This can render some species extinct in the long run. For most regions, wild-caught fish won’t be fresh anymore as they have to travel long distances to get to the supermarket or the restaurant, so they’re often not as fresh as locally sourced ones. On top of that, the price is constantly increasing because of the rising demand and lower supply.
Farm-Raised Fish
Farmed-raised fish are any type of seafood that is raised in floating net pens in the ocean. The method of farm-raising is also called ocean-raising or aquaculture. In the past few years, it has become one of the most well-known methods of raising fish.
Pros
- They are more sustainable, given that they are raised on farms. They also help lessen the stress on wild fish, as they are able to grow back in peace.
- While wild-caught crawfishes are more flavorful, farm-raised ones tend to have a sweeter taste because they often eat the remains of rice paddies.
- They are more readily available than wild fish, which could be available in certain seasons and not in others. Also, aquaculture fish are available for catching the entire year.
- They are relatively cheaper because they cost much less to harvest and don’t need to be shipped.
Cons
Farm-raised fish is said to have a lower level of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are one of the nutrients found in various types of fish and among the benefits that people want. Wild-caught fish, in comparison, has higher levels of Omega 3s.
Conclusion
At this point, you now know that both have their pros and cons that you should consider, and it all depends on what you want. If you prefer sustainable options in everything that you use or eat, then you should dine at restaurants that only serve farm-raised crawfishes.
Whether you are looking for farm-raised or wild-caught seafood, there are many crawfish places in Houston that could serve you the freshest locally sourced crawfish dishes.
Crawfish Café serves the best crawfish in Houston, so make sure that you visit our restaurant the next time you are in the area. You won’t be disappointed with our Viet-Cajun crawfish and other delectable dishes! Contact us to know about our menu or to make a reservation!