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Today, aquaculture has become the driving force behind seafood production worldwide. According to the FAO, in recent years, aquaculture has been producing more seafood for human consumption than the fishing industry, and this trend is set to intensify in the years ahead.
Today, over 90% of marine fish stocks are already overexploited or exploited to their maximum sustainable level by global fishing. Aquaculture therefore has a key role to play in sustainably feeding the world of tomorrow. Some fish that are highly appreciated for human consumption are farmed, which reduces fishing pressure on their wild populations, that are often in poor condition. However, fishing pressure is shifted to other species: the ones that feed farmed fish.
European consumers are very fond of carnivorous species such as salmon, trout, shrimp, sea bass and sea bream. Their diet therefore requires a high protein and/or Omega 3 content, which is provided by fish meal and fish oil. These marine ingredients come from reduction fisheries, which targets small forage fish. Unfortunately, this type of fishing is not very selective and can have many negative environmental and social impacts.
In 2021, several companies decided to launch an initiative for the sustainability of aquaculture feed, with the support of Earthworm Foundation.
10 French companies have joined forces in a pre-competitive working group, coordinated by Earthworm Foundation, to collectively work on making farmed fish feed in their supply chains more responsible. These companies decided to focus on the salmon sector at first.
Observation: today, aquafeed production requires the extraction of wild fish from the ocean and contributes to the problem of overfishing. Given that aquaculture is the driving force behind seafood production, further exploitation of wild fish stocks to meet the growing demand for aquaculture feed is unsustainable.
Mission: to shift the French market towards aquaculture using more sustainable feed ingredients.
Goal: to limit the ecological and social impact of aquafeed ingredients, in particular by reducing the use of fish meal and fish oil from forage fish, improving the management of fisheries, and ensuring that soy is not sourced from deforestation or conversion.
Strategy: to set collective objectives on the sustainability of aquafeed, bringing together the supply chain stakeholders (distributors, processors, farmers, feed suppliers, etc.); to implement the strategy with the creation of more sustainable supply chains; and to monitor progress.
In 2021, the group carried out a survey on salmon farming in Norway, Scotland and Chile, based on the farmers supplying the Initiative. The survey focused on aquafeed and animal welfare.
In 2022, the members have set collective objectives in favor of sustainable aquaculture feed. These will first be deployed in the salmon sector, with a horizon of 2030. The objectives were defined in consultation with industry key stakeholders, notably salmon producers and feed manufacturers, to ensure feasibility and understand where to focus the collective work. The Initiative members are committed to putting in place the resources needed to achieve these objectives by 2030.
The objectives will then be adapted to other species (trout, sea bass, sea bream, shrimp) with different timeframes.
These objectives are translated into indicators that will be measured at regular intervals.
The Initiative is now open to any type of company (distributors, processors, farmers or feed manufacturers) aligned with these values, as long as they share the collective objectives.
Over the past two years, our efforts have focused on mapping the salmon supply chain, engaging stakeholders across the value chain, and advancing the adoption of sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil in salmon feed.
Supply chain mapping & baseline assessment
We mapped the salmon supply chains of Initiative members and collected data from salmon farmers to establish reference indicators for feed sustainability. Key group-averaged results include:
Stakeholder dialogue
Two workshops held in Paris (November 2023 and December 2024) brought together retailers, feed manufacturers, salmon farmers, and other industry players to discuss sustainability challenges related to fishmeal and fish oil, as well as the adoption of alternative and novel ingredients. These events fostered knowledge-sharing and collaboration on broadening the basket of sustainable raw materials used in aquafeed, while ensuring alignment with the nutritional needs of salmon.
Education & technical support
To support the transition toward novel and alternative ingredients, we co-developed technical factsheets with ingredient manufacturers, analyzing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of alternative feed ingredients. These resources have helped Initiative members strengthen internal capacity and make informed sourcing decisions.
Consumer insights
A nationwide consumer survey was conducted in France to assess perceptions and acceptance of alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil. The findings will support discussions around the adoption of novel ingredients and help members align their sustainability strategies with evolving market expectations and consumer preferences.
Building on the work developed over the past two years, the 2025 action plan focuses on strengthening alignment, transparency, and communication to support the adoption of novel and alternative feed ingredients.
Strategic alignment on sourcing requirements
Work with Initiative members and retailers to define a shared strategy for integrating alternative feed ingredients into sourcing requirements. The goal is to ensure a coherent, concerted approach across the value chain that supports market transformation.
Communication & consumer engagement
To support transparency and informed consumer choice:
Stakeholder engagement
Continue dialogue with key stakeholders including NGOs, EU institutions, and consumer advocacy groups to promote constructive conversations around alternative ingredients and how to support a more sustainable aquaculture industry
Expansion to trout
Expand the Initiative’s scope to include trout farming by the end of the year. This will involve identifying key sustainability challenges, setting objectives, and mapping the trout supply chains of Initiative members.
If you would like more information about this initiative, please contact the coordinators:
