The size of the global omega 3 supplement industry has grown enormously in recent years with an increase of over 400% in companies compliant with the Friend of the Sea standard within the last three years.
Data from Friend of the Sea has shown that today, 439 companies voluntarily adhere to Friend of the Sea standard for fish oil, fishmeal, fish feed and omega-3 supplement, an increase of around 477% compared with 2015 when there were only 76.
“As the leading globally recognised standard program for sustainable seafood, we are enthusiastic about scoring and sharing the positive change in attitude towards environmental sustainability and social accountability occurring also in the nutraceutical sector,” stated Paolo Bray, founder and director of Friend of the Sea.
Peruvian origin
Certified oils originate mostly from approved Peruvian anchovy fisheries and fleet - Engraulis ringens - (29%); Antarctic krill - Euphausia superba - (22%); European sardine - Sardina pilchardus (8%); European anchovy - Engraulis encrasicolus – (7%); Chub mackerel -Scomber japonicus (7%); and Atlantic cod - Gadus morhua – (3%). The remaining 24% derives from various species such as salmon, tuna and squid which are equally certified, processed and usually refined and blended.
Of over 439 Friend of the Sea labelled enterprises, 17% are processors, while 83% are distributors.
Recently, manufacturing companies have been processing by-cuts or trimmings from selected seafood to optimise the use of marine resources and avoid the production of waste.
The industry has also developed new green extraction technologies including supercritical CO2 extraction, ultrasound and microwaves.
