Salmon require high-protein diets traditionally met by fishmeal from wild fish. Reducing fishmeal while maintaining salmon health and welfare is a major aquaculture sustainability challenge.
Salmon feed composition is a welfare issue because dietary deficiencies or inappropriate ingredients directly affect fish health and wellbeing. Reductions in fishmeal have been achieved using plant proteins, but some alternatives including soy can cause gut inflammation in salmon, compromising welfare. Novel protein sources including insect meal and single-cell protein show promise as fishmeal replacements without health penalties. Ensuring adequate omega-3 fatty acid provision from algae-based sources rather than wild fish maintains the nutritional quality essential for immune function and welfare. Feed formulation is an active area of aquaculture welfare research with significant potential for improving both sustainability and salmon health.