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News
Dr Neil Auchterlonie The fishmeal industry at large
he readers of International Aquafeed may be reliably well-informed, but sadly, it appears that some basic misunderstandings abound in some quarters about how the fishmeal industry operates, why fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) are fundamental to aquafeed and hence aquaculture production, how certification in the sector operates, and why the use of raw material for FMFO is a good thing for global society. The quote, apparently attributable to Mark Twain, of “never let the truth get in the way of a good story” comes to mind when reading the outputs from some campaigns. The fishmeal industry has a long history of working with others relating to issues of raw material sourcing, and FMFO production. The development of the IFFO Responsible Supply standard (IFFO RS) is, in itself, an excellent case study of a multistakeholder approach to the development of certification. It was based on the concept of collaboration. The resulting efficient application of a global standard that has supported responsible sourcing of marine ingredients for a decade has, without doubt, had beneficial effects on fisheries and marine ecosystems around the world. The development of the standard was through the efforts of many knowledgeable and dedicated people across the value-chain, as well as the NGO community and other seafood certification bodies. Some other misunderstandings occur with an unfortunately reliable frequency. These misunderstandings generally relate to three different areas, namely the use of fish as raw material for FMFO; the use of fishmeal and fish oil in feeds; and notions that the fishmeal industry is somehow emptying the oceans of fish. Those criticisms ignore the facts. Markets determine the destination of the fish, whether into fishmeal or fish as food (food markets take fish suitable for direct human consumption as they pay more for the raw material). Fishmeal and fish oil provide essential nutrition not found in other ingredients as a single package (feeds may be made without these materials, but the formulations call for higher levels of supplementations of individual nutrients, such as for example essential amino acids). The vast majority of fisheries supplying the raw material for FMFO are regulated, and those regulations include the setting of quotas which are enforced by national governments, which along with other controls effectively manage fishery stocks often within the concept of maximum sustainable yield (MSY). If ever there was an important time to look at the production of proteins across the globe with a scientific, technical and objective viewpoint, rather than an emotional argument, it is now. Social media is at the heart of the communication of many of these misunderstandings, and it is essential that those in seafood value-chains communicate the facts, clearly and reliably, about how food systems operate in reality. In the last monthly column, we highlighted the importance of nutritional links to health, and it is not too strong to say that, ultimately, inaccurate reporting of the facts may have impacts that go well beyond influencing mere food choices and protein consumption. Dr Neil Auchterlonie is the Technical Director at IFFO. He has managed aquaculture and fisheries science programmes in both public and private sectors. Academically he holds a BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology from Stirling University, a MSc in Applied Fish Biology from the University of Plymouth, and a PhD in Aquaculture (halibut physiology) from Stirling University. 8 | November 2019 - International Aquafeed
BioMar accelerates next generation of feed solutions for RAS
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uilding upon decades of research within feed for recirculation, BioMar has now chosen to increase focus on feed solutions for this segment. BioMar states that land-based farming can improve efficiency and operational stability using even more advanced feed solutions. “RAS for land-based salmon farming is an emerging segment within the aquaculture industry, and there is still a potential to be realised. The highly advanced technologies being used require highly advanced feed solutions and farming practices to enable a strong performance”, states Carlos Diaz, CEO of BioMar Group. “We will very soon present new products to the market. In order to create a sustainable food future, we need together as an industry to enable a doubling of our production capacity without increasing pressure on the environment, wild fish and agriculture. That is a challenge, we need to address together”, concluded Mr Diaz.