Aquaculture Feed: Fishmeal Welfare and Sustainability

Farmed fish feed containing fishmeal derived from wild-caught small pelagic fish creates a welfare concern that multiplies the animals affected by each aquaculture operation.

Key Facts

Producing 1 kg of farmed salmon requires approximately 1.2-2.5 kg of wild fish in the form of fishmeal and fish oil
Annual global fishmeal production uses approximately 18-20 million tonnes of wild-caught fish
Small pelagic fish like anchovies, herring, and sand lance are caught in vast quantities for reduction to fishmeal
These fish are sentient, likely pain-capable animals killed in large numbers without welfare consideration
Alternative protein sources including soy, insects, and single-cell protein are increasingly viable substitutes

Welfare Considerations

The welfare footprint of aquaculture extends far beyond the farmed fish themselves through the wild fisheries that supply their feed. Wild-caught small pelagic fish, which are sentient animals capable of experiencing pain, are killed in massive quantities to produce fishmeal for salmon, shrimp, and other farmed species. The welfare math compounds: hundreds of wild fish may be caught to produce one farmed fish. Reducing the fishmeal intensity of aquaculture feeds and transitioning to alternative protein sources is both a sustainability and animal welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Choose aquaculture products from producers with commitments to reduced fishmeal use
Support research and adoption of insect meal, single-cell protein, and other alternative feed ingredients
Advocate for fishmeal inclusion rate disclosure in aquaculture certification standards
Reduce overall fish consumption to decrease demand for both farmed and wild-caught species