Fisheries and aquaculture by-products: Case studies in Norway, United States, and Vietnam

Abstract

Fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) have historically come from capture fisheries, although supply from capture fisheries is constrained and demand for FMFO is increasing. Fish production losses and by-products are an alternative raw material for FMFO, however, there is little systematic data collected on the use of these raw materials and limited knowledge about barriers to their use in FMFO production. This study collected data on production losses and by-products from seven fisheries and aquaculture sectors that are important in supplying the US seafood market. From 2019–2021, quantitative surveys (n=47 businesses), semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=31 businesses), and secondary data were collected for the study period of 2014–2018. There was significant variation in utilization of production losses and by-products across sectors (range: 37–99 %), and overall, the aggregate utilization rate was 72 %. Scale appeared to be the most important factor leading to use of production losses and by-products. Aquaculture industries in this study had a large and relatively steady supply of by-products year-round, which made investments in FMFO plants worthwhile and led to moderate to high rates of by-product utilization. Wild-caught fisheries in this study had lower rendering rates due to short fishing seasons, smaller scales, operations in remote locations, and regulations that allow dumping of by-products. There were several examples of companies that invested in rendering plants because it was profitable to sell the rendered waste, while other sectors and industries require better coordination and policy supports to make use of this valuable resource.