University of Stirling scientists have used models of current and future fisheries and aquaculture production to provide estimates for the future availability of raw material for marine ingredients.
Commissioned by IFFO, the model shows an increasing availability of raw material from byproduct derived from aquaculture as that sector continues to grow.
It also confirmed an under-utilisation of byproduct from both fisheries and aquaculture at the current time.
Dr Neil Auchterlonie, technical director of IFFO, said “Models such as this are useful in providing an overview of future scenarios for the industry, and are important in managing the security of supply of marine ingredients within global food supply chains.”
He added: “The Stirling University team has provided some excellent predictions of future supply of these vital ingredients into aquatic and terrestrial protein production systems.”
Europe currently uses more byproduct for fishmeal and fish oil production than any other region.
Fish oil is predicted to grow more slowly than fishmeal, as future contributions from aquaculture are likely to include increasing proportions of low-oil yield farmed freshwater species.
Logistical and practical difficulties account for the current under-utilisation of byproduct in marine ingredient production.
The full report can be accessed on the IFFO website.
