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How much wild fish is needed to feed farmed fish?

Skretting now has the knowledge and R&D to produce Atlantic salmon feeds requiring zero fish meal, and zero fish oil. We invest in R&D that provides full flexibility. Our consistent and ever-evolving R&D efforts ensure that we are also minimising our use of finite raw materials, such as fish meal and fish oil. In fact, in 2017, Skretting launched MicroBalance Infinity – a concept proving that a salmon can be grown from 1kg to harvest using zero fish meal or fish oil. The MicroBalance concept was launched in 2010 when Skretting was first able to reduce fish meal in our feeds without negatively impacting the health and performance of the fish, and continues to be pivotal in expanding our knowledge in other species.  

Pelagic fish

How is wild-fish use measured?

Forage fish dependency ratios compare the wild fish used to supply fishmeal or fish oil with the quantity of farmed fish produced. Fishmeal and fish oil are calculated separately because they are produced and used in different proportions.

Results depend on the data and assumptions used, including:

  • whether the calculation covers fishmeal, fish oil or both;
  • the proportion produced from whole fish and from processing by-products;
  • the yield of fishmeal and fish oil from the source material;
  • the feed conversion achieved; and
  • the species and production period assessed.

For this reason, one ratio should not be presented as representative of all aquaculture.