Marine ingredients in petfood

Key consumers

Fishmeal and fish oil have long been used in the aquaculture sector and also for pig and poultry feed. The FAO, in its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 report, notes that they are considered ‘the most nutritious and most digestible ingredients for farmed fish, as well as the major source of omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]).’ Aquaculture uses about 80% of fishmeal and fish oil globally.

But other sectors, including the pet food sector, have increasingly become key consumers of these ingredients. Conservative estimates by IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organisation, put fishmeal consumption in pet food globally at 174,600 metric tonnes in 2019 and fish oil use at 116,400 metric tonnes.

High-quality nutrition

Fishmeal is well known for its high-quality protein content and excellent balance of amino acids. Its lipid content should also be valued for the strategic role it plays in nutrition, as it is rich in omega-3 and phospholipids. Phospholipids are responsible for important biological functions in animals and are easily digested and absorbed. The fatty acids from both fishmeal and fish oil differ from those found in vegetable meals and oils in that they are high in the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA, whereas vegetable meals and oils are high in the short- chain omega-6 fatty acids.

Assuring safety, the marine ingredients industry relies on decade-long datasets of information relating to feed ingredient safety whether supported by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) standards, national regulations, or a combination of both. In addition, the MarinTrust Standard is widely applied, certifying over half of all sourcing and production of marine ingredients worldwide.

IFFO, the Marine Ingredients Organisation, puts fishmeal consumption in pet food globally at 174,600 metric tonnes in 2019 and fish oil use at 116,400 metric tonnes.

Circular and sustainable

An increasing trend is the use of by-products as raw material to produce fishmeal and fish oil. By-products result from the processing of either wild-caught fish or aquaculture processing and refer to some parts of the fish (head, tail, et cetera) which are not used. All this raw material can represent between 30 and 70% of the wet weight of the fish, depending on the species, and is considered valuable raw material. The utilisation of by-products helps reduce waste and is a perfect example of how the circular economy mindset can be implemented.

IFFO has calculated that currently around 31% of the world’s marine ingredients production comes from by- products. More specifically, about 27% of fishmeal and 48% of fish oil comes from by-products.

This trend towards greater use of by-products is very promising for the future as it supports a growing availability of sustainably sourced, nutritious raw materials suitable for a wide range of markets.