Aquaculture Omega-3 Feed Sustainability and Fish Welfare

Farmed salmon require omega-3 rich feed - sourcing from wild forage fish raises both sustainability and welfare concerns.

Key Facts

Atlantic salmon require DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids for health and growth
Traditionally sourced from fishmeal and fish oil from wild-caught forage fish such as anchoveta
Wild forage fish fisheries affect entire marine food web if over-exploited
Alternative omega-3 sources include algae, genetically modified canola, and insect oil
Feed conversion ratio for salmon is approximately 1.2-1.4 kg feed per kg salmon produced
Nutritional welfare of farmed salmon depends on feed formulation quality and omega-3 adequacy

Welfare Considerations

The sourcing of omega-3 fatty acids for aquaculture feed connects farmed fish welfare to the welfare and population health of wild forage fish. Transitioning to algae-derived and other non-forage-fish omega-3 sources would reduce this conflict while maintaining farmed fish nutritional welfare.

What You Can Do

Choose salmon products with certification indicating responsibly sourced feed ingredients
Support research into algae-based and other alternative omega-3 sources for aquaculture
Ask retailers about the feed sustainability credentials of farmed salmon they stock
Advocate for mandatory omega-3 source transparency in aquaculture product labelling