Aquaculture

According to FAO, aquaculture accounts for nearly 50 percent of the world’s food fish and is identified as probably the fastest growing food-producing sector globally.

As the world’s population continues to increase over the coming decades, and global living standards rise, the demand for fish will keep on growing. With most wild capture fisheries already fully exploited, much of that demand will have to be met from aquaculture. FAO estimates that global aquaculture production will  reach about 92 Mt in 2023, an increase of 38% over next decade. This amounts to an annual growth rate of 2.5%. For more information about the global development in aquaculture click here.

Fishmeal and fish oil provide a balanced amount of all essential amino acids, minerals, phospholipids and fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and the use of fishmeal and fish oil in feed for aquaculture constitutes a very effective use of marine oil and protein.

Even though fish feeds hold lower inclusion rates of fishmeal and fish oil than previously, fishmeal and fish oil are the best performing ingredients in fish feed and a future availability of marine ingredients is essential for an increase in aquaculture production.

Fishmeal and fish oil produced from responsibly managed fisheries for fish with little or no potential for direct human comsumption, as well as cut-offs from the filletting industry, are thus helping to bring important long chain Omega 3 fatty acids and proteins into the food chain and including them in the diets of consumers.

The Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) is stakeholder-led organisations that provide the Commission and EU countries with recommendations for Aquaculture developments and Union policies which could affect aquaculture. European Fishmeal is member of the AAC. An exeample of recommendations from the AAC is the recommendations on “Fish In Fish Out” (FIFO)