Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds and Animal Welfare

The ingredients in aquaculture feeds have welfare implications beyond the farmed species, affecting wild fisheries, land animals and the farmed fish themselves.

Key Facts

Fishmeal and fish oil from wild-caught fish remain important in salmon feeds despite reduction
Alternative proteins including insect meal, algae and plant proteins are replacing fishmeal
Insect farming for aquaculture feeds raises its own animal welfare questions
Feed quality directly affects fish health, immunity and welfare outcomes
Feed conversion ratios measure how efficiently fish convert feed to body mass

Welfare Considerations

Aquaculture feed welfare extends beyond the fish being fed to the source species of feed ingredients. Wild-caught fish used for fishmeal are typically not stunned before processing, representing a welfare issue for billions of individuals annually. Reduction in fishmeal use through alternative proteins improves wild fish welfare outcomes. However, replacement with insect protein introduces new welfare questions about insect farming conditions. Feed quality affects immune function and disease resistance in farmed fish, creating direct links between feed composition and welfare outcomes for the fish consuming it.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes requiring responsible sourcing of fishmeal and fish oil
Advocate for welfare standards in insect production used for aquaculture feeds
Engage with the aquaculture feed industry about welfare across the full supply chain
Support research into feed alternatives that reduce reliance on wild-caught fish without welfare trade-offs