FACTSHEET October 2009
A factsheet on the raw material used in fish feed, feed composition, research and sustainability.
Fish feed
Fish feed based on sustainable raw materials
It’s wise to use fish feed raw materials in salmon fish farming Farmed fish are not only an extremely efficient provider of meat but farmed fish also takes by far the best care of the unique and extremely important health benefits of fish proteins and fatty acids. For each three kg of marine protein used in salmon feed, two kg of salmon protein is produced. Some of the protein in fishmeal comes from intestines, heads and offal that are not used for human consumption. The majority of species of fish have a far lower fillet yield than salmon. This means that the relationship between what is edible marine protein used in the feed and the amount of protein found in the salmon fillet is extremely favourable.
The most important fish farming species in Norway are by nature predatory fish that subsist on other fish in the ocean. In fish farming the fish are fed on pellets consisting of both marine and vegetable raw materials. The marine raw materials are fish oil and fishmeal, primarily produced from fish not generally suited for the consumer market, as well as by-products from the fish industry. Given the limited access
The use of omega-3 fatty acids with a high nutritional value in salmon feed is a very sustainable method of utilisation. Salmon take care of these fatty acids and make them available for humans. Other animals are unable to take care of these fatty acids to the same degree as salmon. The majority is tempered and the health benefits are thus spoiled. Research has also shown that the salmon saves the fatty acids with a high nutritional value and uses other fatty acids as a source of energy. This is unique among farmed animals. If comparisons are made of the biological feed factor (how much feed must be used to grow 1kg) for salmon, chicken and pork, this will on average come to 1.2 for salmon, 2.5 for chicken and 3.0 for pork. When it is also known that around 34% of fish feed produced on a global basis is used to feed chicken, pork and pets, salmon appears a far more efficient alternative.
to marine raw materials and the sustainable development of fish farming, marine raw materials currently make up only half of the ingredients in the fish feed. The remainder are various types of vegetable raw t materials. a In Norway 1.2 million tonnes of fish feed was sold for aquaculture in 2008. More than
e m e l b i d e g k
Salmon
Chicken
Pork
Figure: Meat produced per 100 kg feed for different animals.
Should we use fish oil for biofuels or to produce healthy food? Fish oil with omega-3 is contained in fish feed. Previously this oil was used for paint and fuel, but mainly to harden margarine. The hardening process destroys the omega-3, and for several reasons this type of use has ceased. But when fish oil is cheap (such as the spring of 2009) some oil is still used for fu el (biofuel). It is difficult to defend such use of this valuable resource when it could be used in the production of healthy food.
Raw materials must come from sustainable fisheries Half of all fish feed consists of marine raw materials, including industrial fish caught in local or distant waters. The suppliers to the Norwegian feed industry must document that the fish used in the production of fish oil and fishmeal are catched in a responsible manner, without depleting fish stocks or damaging the marine environment. These raw materials are required to come from regulated fisheries that are administered and approved in accordance with national fishing authorities and in line with international agreements. Furthermore the feed industry is a driving force behind enabling suppliers to offer adequate and systematic tracing documentation for the species used in fishmeal and fish oil production. The feed industry’s goal is that the species used in production shall come from sustainable fisheries. Today this is a challenge as there are many and varied opinions on the requirements that must be made for a fishery to be considered sustainable. In recent years there has been an increased focus on this with regard to species fished directly for human consumption. It has only recently become more relevant for fisheries that traditionally participate in the production of fishmeal and fish oil. The feed industry wants openness about the fish species used in the production of raw materials for the industry. For example, the relevant fish species used in production in 2008 are stated in tables in the FHL’s environmental report for 2008. The producers of fishmeal and oil (IFFO – International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation) are working to establish a specific ISO – approved control system through a Responsible Supply Code, expected to come into effect during 2009.
Other sources: IFFO: www.iffo.net Ewos: www.ewos.com Skretting: www.skretting.com Biomar: www.biomar.com NIFES: www.nifes.no Laksefakta: www.laksefakta.no
o i t a r n o i s r e v n o c d e e F
T M 0 0 0 1
Vegetables Fish oil Fishmeal Slaughtered qty Feed factor
The use of feed for Norwegian salmon and trout production. Increased production of salmonids has not led to increased use of marine raw materials for fish feed. The illustration also shows the economical feed conversion ratio (how much feed used to produce 1 kg of slaughtered salmon). The biological feed conversion ratio (how much feed needed to grow 1 kg of salmon meat) is not shown in this illustration, but it is reduced by 15–20% over the last 30 yea rs. Source: Norwegian Directory of Fisheries/FHL
98% of this was produced in Norway. While in 1990 around 4 kg of wild fish was required to produce 1 kg of salmon, just over 2 kilos of wild fish are currently required to produce 1 kg of salmon. Dependency on wild fish has fallen dramatically. Extensive research is also underway to find alternative marine sources of feed. This revolves around finding opportunities to utilise surpluses at a lower level in the food pyramid (krill, copepods), the production of marine fatty acids in plants and the use of single-cell protein. It is only partially correct to say that 2 to 2.5 kg of wild fish is required to produce 1 kg of salmon. This figure only indicates how much wild fish is needed to meet the requirement for marine oils (fish oils) in a standard diet. This amount of wild fish thus also provides “surplus” fishmeal that can be used by other industries and for other productions. The actual consumption of marine raw materials for 1 kg of farmed fish is some 1.5 kg, but can vary somewhat depending on the fat content and quality of the wild fish used. The calculation that
demonstrates this in detail can be obtained from the fish feed producers. Demand for seafood is growing, and the industry is preparing itself for a continued relatively reduction in dependence on fishmeal and fish oil when production increases. It is also a goal to increase the use of byproducts from other fish species. FHL supports the battle against illegal fishing and to reduce and prevent fish being discarded. It is vital that such discarding is stopped as it has been in Norway, and that the resources are taken onto land and utilised. The Norwegian authorities are carrying out an important international job in aiming to change the regulations. Discarded fish are estimated to make up around 20 million tonnes every year. This amount that is currently dumped in the sea would itself provide enough marine raw materials to expand the volume of the Norwegian fish farming industry by ten times, without increasing today’s regulated fish quotas.
This factsheet is published by The Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL). Comprehensive information about fish feed and other relevant topics can be found in FHL’s Environmental Report for 2008. FHL is the largest employer organisation for the seafood industry and covers the entire value chain, from fjord to table. FHL is affiliated with NHO. See also www.fhl.no/miljo
