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Fish oil
supplements
HOw are they made and just how
sustainable are they?
What is fish oil?
Fish oil is a fatty liquid created during fish production, using
waste products that would otherwise be discarded. Fish Oil production and
Approximately 100kg of raw material produces 3-6kg of fish
oil. consumption around the

Fish oil has a variety of uses - from dietary supplements to

world
aquaculture, and this nutrient rich oil is used around the Fish oil production is a vital component of the fishery
world. industry. Globally, between 0.8 and 1.3 million tonnes of

fish oil are produced every year.
The fish oil that is incorporated into supplements is In 2021, 70 countries around the world produced fish oil,
commonly derived from anchovies, cod, mackerel or sardines with 80 exporting it and 98 importing the product.
- otherwise known as pelagic fish species.

The appeal of adding fish oil to the human diet is its high, The largest fisheries in the world are located in:
concentrated omega-3 content, which has been linked to an - China
array of health benefits including a lowered risk of - Indonesia
cardiovascular disease, enhanced neurological development - The United States of America
and improved cognitive function. - Vietnam
- Peru
-India
- the Russian Federation
which when combined accounted for almost 50% of total
Top Consumers global fish capture in 2018.
/predators
ain

Approximately 25% of fish caught every year is reduced - so

each of these fisheries has a place in the aquaculture and
Ch

fish oil industries as well as directly producing food for

human consumption.
od

Secondary Consumers

Fo

The Anchoveta catch in Peru is the world's largest producer

of fish oil and fish meal, and has been responsible for 15-
ine

Primary Consumers 20% of global fish oil production since 2010.

ar

(such as pelgic fish)

eM
Th

Primary Producers

How is fish oil created?

Before the manufacturing of oil begins the fish must be caught. Pelagic species that are processed to create fish oil can either be
farmed or fished from wild populations - both methods have ecological implications.

For wild populations of fish, the most common capture method is using Purse Seiner boats. Purse Seiners are vessels with large nets
that float at the top of the ocean. Added weights and wires allow the nets to be closed, capturing the fish inside which are then
brought aboard the boat and stored in insulated holding areas.
Large Purse Seiners have the resources to remain at sea for 2-3 months, but pelagic species are generally brought to processing plants
in a much shorter period of time.

Once fish is brought back to land and the processing plants, there are various techniques for producing fish oil.
In an industrial context the oil is commonly manufactured using a process called Wet Reduction (or wet pressing), followed by further
refining.

Wet reduction involves:

1. cooking the fish material to release oil from fat deposits
2. Pre-straining to drain oil and water that have been released
3. Pressing to remove as much liquid as possible, improving the oil yield and quality of the product.
4. Centrifuging to spin the material and separate water, oil and dry matter.
5. Oil polishing performed by a special operator to refine the oil before storage.
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How sustainable is fish oil
production?
Currently, traditional industrial capture and production methods involved in creating fish oil supplements
are overwhelmingly detrimental to marine environments and our natural world.

The aquatic Sustainability

Energy usage food chain Certifications
Modern fisheries rely heavily on The survival of pelagic fish Certification programs around the world
unclean energy sources like fossil species is vital for marine (such as Marin Trust) have been put in
fuels to run their fish oil plants. environments. place to see that sustainability targets
They are a key link between the are being met, and that marine
It is less expensive to base of a food web (eg. plankton ingredients are being responsibly
outsource steps of the wet and algae) and larger species sourced and produced. As it stands, just
reduction process to other including birds, mammals and over 50% of the world's production of
countries, resulting in crude turtles (as demonstrated in the marine ingredients come from fisheries
oil being sent around the food pyramid above). that meet this standard.
world before it is made into In 1990, 90% of fish stocks
refined oil at the cost of existed within biologically In spite of this, it has been reported by
high energy emissions. sustainable levels, and this has Friends of The Sea that approximately
decreased to only 66% in 2017. 20% of fish caught are the result of

illegal, underreported or unregulated
Overfishing of pelagic species fishing.
disrupts the aquatic food chain,
putting larger species at risk of In areas where standards for
extinction. sustainability quotas have not been met,
Fisheries Improvement Projects are set
The good news up to work towards environmentally-
friendly means of production
The good news is that there are alternatives to environmentally
damaging omega-3 oil.
Krill and algae can be processed into oil and are more ecologically
viable than the use of pelagic species.
If you're looking for an omega-3 oil derived from fish, it's best to What you can do!
go for a low feed conversion ratio species - such as pangasius fish,
or a species whose population is stable. The Marine Stewardship Council has created the MSC

blue fish label for products sold in over 100 countries
In addition, there are fisheries and brands around the world around the world. This label means that the product has
meeting the sustainability standards set by Marin Trust and the been sourced from fisheries that use sustainable methods
Marine Stewardship Council. (meeting MSCs rigorous fisheries standard) to catch wild

seafood.
But how do you as the consumer make sure you're purchasing

ethically produced fish oil?

You can rest assured that you won't be harming fish stocks
and your environmental impact is minimised by choosing a
certified sustainable product.

The bottom line...

Fish oil supplements are part of a huge global market with consumers in every corner of the world - and for good reason, the health
benefits of fish oil have been backed by science time and time again.
Despite the popularity of fish oil, current capture and oil production methods can be harmful to the marine environment, and heavily
reliant on unclean and finite energy sources.

Fortunately there are sustainability standards, certifications and projects popping up at fisheries around the globe, and it's the
responsibility of consumers to support those in the industry who prioritise the health and longevity of the environment.
Show your support by voting with your dollar and purchasing fish oil products that are proven to be sustainable.

Want to know more?

Check out the following resources to learn about the fish oil industry and what needs to be done to work towards completely

sustainable production.
IFFO - the Marine Ingredients Organisation

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation The state of world fisheries and aquaculture (2020)