Introduction
Global fish production peaked at about 171 million tonnes in 2016, with aquaculture representing 47 percent of the total and 53 percent if non-food uses (including reduction to fishmeal and fish oil) are excluded (FAO, 2020). Global aquaculture production (including aquatic plants) in 2016 was 110.2 million tonnes, with the first-sale value estimated at USD 243.5 billion (FAO, 2018). The total production included 80.0 million tonnes of food fish, 30.1 million tonnes of aquatic plants as well as 37,900 tonnes of non-food products (USD 214.6 million). EU aquaculture accounts for about 20% of fish and shellfish supply in the EU and directly employs about 70,000 persons. EU aquaculture accounts for about 20% of fish and shellfish supply in the EU. Despite COVID-19 complications like high level of absenteeism at work sites, transportation difficulties, limited capacity for diagnostic tests for COVID-19, and an increase in operating and logistics costs mainly, global production has been increasing between 5% to 7%.
Despite the diversity of aquaculture, the EU aquaculture production is largely concentrated on a few species, the most important being mussels, salmon, seabream, rainbow trout, seabass, oysters, and carp. Looking at the diversity of species but also the farming method, we see a high dependency on feed for salmon, seabream, rainbow trout, seabass, and carp.
On the other hand, Industry more and more has been attacked by the media specifically because of the environmental and sustainable impact that this is producing. At the same time, there is a very close relationship and synergy with fisheries because it is a fact: The aquaculture industry will not exist without feed and marine ingredients mainly. Marine ingredients include essential proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that are important for farmed fish, and are also passed on to humans when they eat farmed seafood. Growing global production from aquaculture, as envisioned by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization in its recent “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020” report, will require additional feed and a greater demand for marine ingredients use of marine ingredients in aquafeed will not decline soon,
Feed companies are becoming more sophisticated in using the nutritional and physical properties of materials, but the growth in marine ingredients derived from byproducts still needs more focus, currently, more than one-third comes from the byproducts of wild or farmed fish processing, but there is potential for greater innovation. Feed manufacturers already regard them less as a commodity and more as a strategic ingredient in feed made from a wider variety of feed components. According to the FAO forecast, by 2050, it will be necessary to triple protein production to support the development of 10% annual aquaculture production. Arable land is limited and stocks of fish are strained. It is necessary to find additional resources rich in protein in a market of 9 billion euros. Alternative ingredients with similar nutritional value profile, and from marine origin should be a solution, and if it is possible to produce it in a sustainable manner
Methods and Materials
A key part of our methodology is to compile and review current aquaculture certification programs and schemes certifying marine ingredients and feed for aquaculture. How they are addressing the marine ingredients for feed in the supply value chain and the interdependency among aquaculture and fisheries certification programs. A full reference list will be shared during the presentation of this paper.
The scope of the paper and gap analysis include aquaculture and fisheries certification programs associated with shrimp production. A case study of different alternative marine ingredients has been reviewed and valuated. Therefore we have tried to examine these sequentially and have attempted to produce an assessment list for considering at the moment of assessing a new feed marine ingredient and/or alternative – decision making. Whilst we have provided an overview of the marine ingredients for feed in aquaculture and alternatives sources, we have not examined this in detail as several global feed producers may have done in the private sector.
Results and Conclusions
A stairs process approach will be shared as well as reflections in the European feed marine ingredients and 8 steps to consider for feed ingredients design. The right certification scheme for your ingredients and feed seems to end in only one certification program – Marin Trust. Reflections of the important requirements are part of the conclusions.
Beyond certifications, the feed producers should start to develop an assurance model that includes KDEs for a continuous evaluation of the feed ingredient composition, origin, nutritional value, food safety, quality, sustainability, and labor conditions of workers in the supply chain.