New research on precision nutrition in aquaculture feeds could have important implications for pelagic fisheries, particularly those supplying fishmeal and fish oil to the global feed industry. The approach aims to deliver nutrients to farmed fish more precisely, improving feed efficiency and reducing waste.
The findings suggest that future aquafeeds will rely less on crude nutrient targets and more on precise measurements of digestible nutrients, amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids. That shift may reshape how pelagic-fishery marine ingredients are used in feed formulations.
Marine ingredients remain key sources of critical nutrients
Pelagic fisheries, such as those targeting anchovy, sardine, and blue whiting, play a central role in supplying fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture feeds. These products contain high levels of essential amino acids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA.
Precision nutrition research confirms that these nutrients remain critical for fish growth, health and product quality. However, the research also shows that aquaculture diets are increasingly formulated to meet the exact requirements of these nutrients rather than to fixed levels of ingredient inclusion.
That means marine ingredients may increasingly be used as concentrated nutrient sources rather than bulk feed ingredients.
Lower inclusion levels but higher strategic value
Over the past two decades, aquaculture feeds have already reduced fishmeal inclusion as plant proteins and alternative ingredients entered the market. Precision nutrition could accelerate this trend.
The research highlights that feed formulators are moving toward supplying nutrients such as amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids directly, sometimes using concentrated sources or additives.
For pelagic fisheries, this may lead to lower inclusion rates of fishmeal or fish oil in feeds. But it could also increase the strategic value of marine ingredients because they remain the most efficient natural sources of key nutrients.
Growing role for alternative oils and new technologies
The study notes that fish oil is increasingly being balanced with vegetable oils and new sources, such as algal oils, that provide very high levels of EPA and DHA.
These developments could increase competition for traditional fish oil markets. At the same time, demand for high-quality marine omega-3 sources may remain strong where precise nutrient delivery is required.
Large-scale industry data also show that higher levels of EPA and DHA in salmon diets can improve growth performance and reduce mortality in commercial farming.
Efficiency gains may stabilise marine ingredient demand
Another key outcome of precision feeding is improved feed efficiency. Fish receive nutrients in more accurate amounts, reducing waste and improving growth.
This could reduce the overall feed volume required per tonne of farmed fish. For pelagic fisheries supplying the feed industry, this may limit long-term growth in demand for marine ingredients.
At the same time, aquaculture production continues to expand worldwide. That growth could offset efficiency gains and help maintain stable demand for fishmeal and fish oil from pelagic stocks.
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