Feed for Aquaculture

Feed for Aquaculture

The Seafood Consumer Association (SCA) responds to criticism of using marine ingredients like fishmeal and fish oil in animal feeds by emphasizing sustainability and nutritional necessity, while also highlighting an important nuance: much of aquaculture production involves herbivorous species and self-feeding shellfish/molluscs that require little or no fishmeal or fish oil in their diets.

Sustainable Use of Marine Ingredients in Feed — Balanced with Herbivorous Aquaculture

The SCA explains that while marine ingredients such as fishmeal and fish oil are vital sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, supporting optimal growth and health in many farmed fish species, it is important to recognize that a significant proportion of aquaculture production relies on herbivorous fish species and shellfish like molluscs, which do not require these marine animal-based feeds.

Species such as tilapia, carp, pangasius, and many bivalves (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) are herbivores or filter feeders that naturally consume algae, plankton, and plant material, reducing the dependence on fishmeal/fish oil. For example:

  • Tilapia is often called the "aquatic chicken" because it can thrive on a primarily plant-based diet, consuming phytoplankton, detritus, and algae in pond environments with minimal need for animal-based feed ingredients.
  • Shellfish and molluscs are self-feeders that filter microscopic plants and organic particles directly from water, requiring no external feed inputs like fishmeal or fish oil.
  • Certain herbivorous reef fish used in aquaculture consume macroalgae and exhibit adaptations that allow them to efficiently process plant materials, highlighting ecological diversity in feed requirements.

This diversity in feed sources means aquaculture is not a monolithic user of marine ingredients—rather, the sector is increasingly moving toward more herbivorous and lower trophic level species that rely less on fishmeal and fish oil, thus balancing seafood production with ocean ecosystem sustainability

Key Points in SCA’s Response:

  • Sustainable sourcing: Fishmeal and fish oil are primarily produced from responsibly managed forage fish stocks and seafood processing byproducts, promoting efficient use of marine resources without depleting wild stocks.
  • Essential human and animal nutrition: Marine ingredients provide unique, highly bioavailable omega-3s (EPA, DHA) crucial for the health and growth of many farmed species and humans consuming seafood.
  • Innovation reducing reliance: The feed industry is incorporating novel protein sources such as insects, microalgae, and fermentation products to lower the proportion of marine ingredients without compromising nutrition.
  • Herbivorous species prominence: A growing share of aquaculture comes from species that either do not require fishmeal or consume natural food directly (e.g., algae, plankton), further reducing demand for marine-derived feed.
  • Environmental and feed efficiency benefits: Use of fishmeal and fish oil improves feed conversion ratios and animal health, thereby decreasing the overall environmental footprint of farmed fish and other species.
  • Balanced ecosystem management: Integration of herbivorous aquaculture species helps maintain ecological and nutritional balance, contributing to the health of aquatic environments.

In conclusion, the Seafood Consumer Association underscores that criticism of marine ingredients in feed often overlooks the significant role of herbivorous fish and self-feeding shellfish in aquaculture, which reduces dependence on fishmeal and fish oil. This combined with advances in sustainable sourcing and feed innovations ensures that marine ingredients are used judiciously and contribute to a sustainable, healthy global food system—balancing ocean conservation with nutrition security for a growing population.[1][2][3][4]

References:

  1. https://www.pbs.org/emptyoceans/fts/shellfish/viewpoints.html

  2. https://tastingthefuture.com/2020/11/23/sustainable-aquaculture-and-food-security-herbivorous-fish-and-algal-feeds/

  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10231202/

  4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-04628-3

  5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141113625002053

  6. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.882196/full

  7. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01524.x

  8. https://www.reddit.com/r/Fish/comments/1c6qinb/what_herbivorous_fish_are_good_to_eat/

  9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848623011766