Friend of the Sea certified aquaculture companies will soon have to source only from certified fish feed to prove their sustainability to the consumers. Friend of the Sea is providing a practical answer to the yearly discussion between pressure groups, NGOs and the aquaculture and fish feed industry, about the sustainability of the farmed fish feed.
Friend of the Sea feed must originate from either trimmings or fisheries already approved as sustainable by Friend of the Sea. Among these fisheries are currently the US menhaden fishery and the Morocco purse seine mackerel and sardines fisheries. The Peruvian anchovies fishery, the biggest fishery in the world, is under assessment and its potential certification, expected early November, will represent a milestone for the fish feed and aquaculture industry.
Processing companies generally pay to dispose approximately 40% of the whole fish as bycuts. In some cases material going for reduction to fish meal may be removed for free. “Using trimmings for fish feed not only reduces the impact on fish stocks destined to produce fish meal: it also reduces waste of protein rich fish bycuts” explains Dr Paolo Bray – Director of Friend of the Sea “More Friend of the Sea certified feed from sustainable fisheries will soon be available on the market and Friend of the Sea aquaculture companies are required to choose them, when available for their farmed species.”
Le Gouessant is one of the biggest french animal feed company, with a branch for aquaculture feed. Le Gouessant is well known for its dedication to quality, recognized by Label Rouge, Organic and food stores. It was among the first producers in Europe to develop an organic feed range. Le Gouessant is already involved into various sustainable aquaculture programs and partnerships to improve feed sustainability.
“We believe aquaculture producers should be informed about lower impact fish feed, in order to make a better choice” comments Mr Dominique Corlay – Le Gouessant Aquaculture Manager “Friend of the Sea certification and seal of approval will allow Le Gouessant and other likeminded producers to make this distinction. We have first certified FOS feed ranges for Seabream, Seabass and Trout. Others will come in the coming months for species like turbot, salmon and shrimp”.
