Skretting's purpose is 'Feeding the Future', but what does that mean? Globally, there is increasing competition for land, water and energy – all of which will increasingly affect food production. Safe, high quality protein is essential, and aquaculture has the potential to provide this for a world population that is growing at an unprecedented rate.
We get a lot of questions about aquaculture - what it is and what it means - and here we are trying to answer some of these, largely from a fish and shrimp feed producer standpoint, but sometimes on behalf of the industry, to provide a clear understanding of aquaculture and of the measures we are taking to fulfil our purpose. We’re committed to achieving this with a strong focus on reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.
what the Global Seafood Alliance says about the importance of aquaculture
No. Fish and shrimp have different nutritional requirements depending on their species, life stage, health status and production conditions. Feeds are formulated for defined nutritional needs and intended uses rather than as one solution for every species or stage of production.
The amount of feed needed depends on the species, life stage, feed, health, farming conditions and feeding management. Feed conversion ratio, or FCR, describes the amount of feed used to produce one kilogram of weight gain. A lower FCR means that less feed is required.
Effective feed management can help producers use feed more efficiently, manage waste and support farm performance. Results depend on the species, feed, farming system, health, environment and feeding practices.
Growth rates vary by species, genetics, life stage, feed, health, water quality, temperature and farm management. Some farmed fish and shrimp species grow relatively quickly because their biology is suited to the production environment and because producers manage nutrition and farming conditions for the species being raised.
Aquaculture farms can provide healthy environments for fish and shrimp when they are designed and managed for the needs of the species.
A lower fishmeal and fish-oil content is not inherently harmful. Fishmeal and fish oil provide valuable nutrients, but feeds can use a range of suitable ingredients when the complete formulation meets the nutritional requirements of the species and life stage.
Farmed and wild seafood both contribute to global food supply. The appropriate choice depends on the species, production or fishery, origin, season, product and the environmental and social factors considered.
Yes. Farmed fish and shrimp can be nutritious choices, providing protein, vitamins and minerals and, depending on the species, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. Nutritional composition varies by species, feed, farming conditions and product.
Yes. Farmed fish and shrimp produced for human consumption must meet applicable food-safety and production requirements. Food safety is managed across the value chain, from feed and farming to processing, transport, retail and food preparation.
According to WWF, 85% of the world’s marine stocks are either fully exploited or overfished. Our planet’s population is forecast to reach 10 billion people by 2050, and with this growth will come a much greater demand for food, including seafood.
Aquaculture plays an important role in meeting the growing demand for seafood. When well managed, it can produce nutritious food efficiently and contribute to a diverse global food supply.
Aquaculture is regulated through requirements that can cover farm approval, animal health and welfare, environmental impacts, feed, food safety, traceability and the use of veterinary medicines. The applicable rules and level of oversight vary by country, species and production system.
Skretting delivers safe and sustainable feeds and services worldwide to fish and shrimp farmers to ensure the responsible production of healthy and delicious food. We are focused on reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.
Skretting works to improve the environmental and social performance of its feeds through responsible sourcing requirements, feed formulation, quality and safety controls, and continued research and innovation. These efforts support relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the responsible development of aquaculture.
Yes. Aquaculture feeds can use suitable by-products and side streams from seafood, agriculture and other food-production systems. Before use, these ingredients must meet nutritional, quality, safety, regulatory and availability requirements.
Yes. Feeds for salmon and trout may contain astaxanthin, a carotenoid that contributes to the characteristic red or pink colour of salmonid flesh. Astaxanthin occurs naturally in the aquatic food chain and also has biological functions in salmonids.
Aquaculture feeds provide nutrients such as protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients can come from marine, vegetable, animal and other approved sources. The ingredients used vary by species, life stage, product, market, regulatory requirements and availability.
We work to source raw materials responsibly by setting approval and sourcing requirements for ingredients and suppliers. Depending on the ingredient and supply chain, these requirements can cover nutrition, quality, safety, regulatory compliance, traceability, and environmental and social risks.
Animal by-products are not inherently dangerous to human health when they are legally permitted for use in aquaculture feed and meet the applicable safety, quality and processing requirements.
Skretting feeds do not contain growth-promoting hormones. Antibiotics are not used as routine feed ingredients or to promote growth.
Feeds may contain authorised additives, including preservatives, when they serve a defined purpose such as maintaining product quality or stability. These substances must comply with applicable feed legislation and the permitted conditions and maximum levels for their use.
Yes. Skretting is in full support of the development of novel ingredients and we have been using some of these in our diets with the support of those customers. We are proactively working towards fully understanding the complexities of all new ;alternatives from sustainability, nutritional, quality and safety, regulatory and financial perspectives. For us, flexibility is essential.
There is no single answer for all aquaculture. The relationship between wild-fish inputs and farmed-fish production varies by species, life stage, feed formulation, feed efficiency and the calculation method used.
Fish meal is a powder obtained after cooking, pressing, drying and milling fresh raw fish, while fish oil is a liquid pressed from the cooked fish. Both are produced from harvesting short-lived, fast-growing stocks of small, bony and oily fish for which there is little or no demand for human consumption. By-products or trimmings from seafood processing are an increasingly large contributor to fish meal and fish oil production.
Skretting Nigeria Limited is a leader in nutritional solutions and services for aquaculture. We manufacture and distribute high-quality products that meet the feed and food safety requirements of our customers.
