FACTSHEET

October 2009

Fish feed
A factsheet on the raw
material used in fish feed,
feed composition, research
and sustainability.

Fish feed based on It’s wise to

sustainable raw materials 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 use of omega-3 fatty acids with a

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.
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
to marine raw materials and the nutritional value and uses other fatty
sustainable development of fish acids as a source of energy. This is
farming, marine raw materials unique among farmed animals. If
comparisons are made of the biological
currently make up only half of the feed factor (how much feed must be
ingredients in the fish feed. The used to grow 1kg) for salmon, chicken
and pork, this will on average
remainder are come to 1.2 for salmon, 2.5 for
various types of chicken and 3.0 for pork. When
vegetable raw it is also known that around
34% of fish feed produced on a
materials. global basis is used to feed
kg edible meat

The marine raw materials are fish chicken, pork and pets, salmon
oil and fishmeal, primarily In Norway 1.2 appears a far more efficient
alternative.
produced from fish not generally million tonnes of
suited for the consumer market, as fish feed was sold
well as by-products from the fish for aquaculture in Figure: Meat produced per
100 kg feed for different
industry. Given the limited access 2008. More than Salmon Chicken Pork
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 fuel (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
WRQQ
WRU
ratio
MT
){UIDN
Feed conversion
1000
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 years. Source: Norwegian Directory of Fisheries/FHL
98% of this was produced in Norway. demonstrates this in detail can be
While in 1990 around 4 kg of wild fish obtained from the fish feed
was required to produce 1 kg of producers.
salmon, just over 2 kilos of wild fish
are currently required to produce 1 kg Demand for seafood is growing, and
of salmon. Dependency on wild fish the industry is preparing itself for a
has fallen dramatically. continued relatively reduction in
dependence on fishmeal and fish oil
Extensive research is also underway when production increases. It is also
to find alternative marine sources of a goal to increase the use of by-
feed. This revolves around finding products from other fish species.
opportunities to utilise surpluses at a
lower level in the food pyramid (krill, FHL supports the battle against
copepods), the production of marine illegal fishing and to reduce and
fatty acids in plants and the use of prevent fish being discarded. It is
single-cell protein. vital that such discarding is stopped
as it has been in Norway, and that
It is only partially correct to say that 2 the resources are taken onto land
to 2.5 kg of wild fish is required to and utilised. The Norwegian
produce 1 kg of salmon. This figure authorities are carrying out an
only indicates how much wild fish is important international job in aiming
needed to meet the requirement for to change the regulations. Discarded
marine oils (fish oils) in a standard fish are estimated to make up
diet. This amount of wild fish thus also around 20 million tonnes every year.
provides “surplus” fishmeal that can This amount that is currently
be used by other industries and for dumped in the sea would itself
other productions. The actual provide enough marine raw
consumption of marine raw materials materials to expand the volume of
for 1 kg of farmed fish is some 1.5 kg, the Norwegian fish farming
but can vary somewhat depending on industry by ten times, without
the fat content and quality of the wild increasing today’s regulated
fish used. The calculation that 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