As aquaculture continues to grow worldwide, it is increasingly recognised as one of the most efficient ways to produce animal protein. Farmed fish now provide a significant share of the world’s seafood, with species such as tilapia, catfish, and salmon playing a crucial role in meeting global nutrition needs. The complex relationship between fishmeal and food security represents one of the most pressing challenges in sustainable aquaculture development.
Yet, as a recent DeSmog investigation by Remy Käller and Hans Wetzels on on highlights, the benefits of aquaculture are not evenly distributed. The article explores how small fish caught in West Africa — particularly in Senegal, Mauritania, and The Gambia — are increasingly being processed into fishmeal and fish oil for export to Europe and Asia. These products are then used as feed for high-value farmed species, including those sold in European supermarkets.
For local communities, these small fish — often sardines, anchovies, or bonga — are much more than an export commodity. They are a critical part of local diets, providing affordable protein and essential fatty acids. They also support livelihoods for thousands of artisanal fishers, processors, and traders, particularly women working in coastal markets. As demand for fishmeal grows, an increasing share of these fish is diverted away from local consumption, contributing to rising prices and threatening food security.
The Fishmeal and Food Security Challenge in Global Aquaculture
This is one of the central challenges in global aquaculture: how to expand production without shifting environmental and social costs onto the world’s most vulnerable communities. The issue is not limited to West Africa – similar patterns have been observed in South America and Asia, where fish once used for human consumption are now redirected into industrial feed supply chains.
At the same time, the fishmeal industry itself is evolving. Producers and certification bodies have begun to recognise the need for more transparent and sustainable sourcing. Initiatives such as the ASC Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s feed standard have introduced new requirements on traceability and responsible ingredient sourcing, encouraging a shift towards greater accountability. However, progress remains uneven, and enforcement often depends on voluntary participation.
From a welfare perspective, the issue extends beyond economics and resource allocation. When small pelagic fisheries are overexploited to supply fishmeal, it not only impacts human nutrition but also places pressure on marine ecosystems and the welfare of wild fish populations. In aquaculture systems that rely heavily on these inputs, welfare outcomes can also be affected indirectly — through feed quality, nutrition balance, and farm management practices.
We work primarily with tilapia farmers in Egypt and Kenya, where many producers are already experimenting with alternative feed sources, including plant-based proteins and locally available ingredients. These innovations are important, but they must be supported by robust data and sound science to ensure they are both nutritionally adequate and environmentally sustainable.
Addressing the feed challenge requires more than technical fixes. It demands systemic change — integrating welfare, industry, sustainability, and social responsibility into the core of aquaculture development. Governments, feed companies, certification schemes, researchers, and producers all have a role to play. Policy coherence is particularly important: ensuring that trade and agricultural policies do not undermine local food systems or incentivise extractive practices abroad.
The future of the sector depends on its ability to balance efficiency with ethics — ensuring that progress for one part of the world does not come at the expense of another. We remain committed to supporting research and partnerships that place welfare and fairness at the centre of sustainable food production. By combining scientific evidence, on-farm engagement, and policy advocacy, it is possible to design aquaculture systems that benefit both fish and people.
Responsible aquaculture must recognise that every link in the supply chain — from feed fisheries to farm ponds — carries consequences. When that understanding guides decisions, we move closer to a system that nourishes both industry, humanity and the environment.
