Use of marine raw materials 2023

We strive to balance the need to produce feed for healthy meals for both fish and human consumption with our goal to be an environmentally responsible producer. We do this by sourcing sustainable feed ingredients and a focus on reduced dependency on wild fish for feed. We only use whole fish that are either certified (MSC or MarinTrust) or subject to a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP). 

In 2023 it took 0.63* kg wild fish to produce 1 kg of feed. 25,9 percent of this fish meal and fish oil originated from trimmings. Almost 97 percent of these marine ingredients used in 2023 was certified or from a FIP. The rest (3.4 percent) is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

* FIFO, according to: Jackson, A. 2009. Click here to scroll down to FFDRm and FFDRo data.

Certification status marine raw materials (fish oil and fish meal from both whole fish and trimmings)

	2023	2022	2021	2020
MSC approved	27.1 %	34.4 %	53.6 %	64.3 %
MarinTrust	40.3 %	51.0 %	42.7 %	31.7 %
MSC ITM	0.2 %	-	-	-
Comp FIP	3.7 %	1.2 %	-	-
MT FIP	25.3 %	10.8 %	2.2 %	0.8 %
None*	3.4 %	2.6 %	1.6 %	3.2 %
Total	100 %	100 %	100 %	100 %

* The number for "None" is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

Trimmings proportion in fish meal and fish oil

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
Proportion fish meal from trimmings	20.8 %	32.8 %	20.5 %	13.7 %	21.7 %	22.0 %
Proportion fish oil from trimmings	33.1 %	39.3 %	31.5 %	16.6 %	12.0 %	26.0 %
Trimmings of marine raw materials (meal and oil combined)	25.9 %	35.4%*	25.3 %	15.0 %	16.8 %	23.9 %

Kg wild fish per kg feed, Forage Fish Dependency Ratio for feed and FIFO

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
FFDR for fish meal per kg feed (FFDRm)	0.51	0.46	0.43	0.44	0.35	0.42
FFDR for fish oil per kg feed (FFDRo)	1.03	1.04	1.09	1.39	1.52	1.24
FIFO*	0.63	0.59	0.57	0.63	0.59	0.60

*FIFO excluding trimmings, according to: Jackson. A. 2009.

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Below is more granulated data for certification status, FFDR and the origin of fish meal and oil respectively used in Skretting Norway's feed.

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Certification status of marine raw materials

Skretting Norway only buys marine raw materials from whole fish that are either certified (MSC or MarinTrust) or subject to a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).

Almost 97 % of the fish meal and fish oil used in 2022 was certified or from a FIP. The rest is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

Source of marine raw materials
Wild fish harvested from the ocean and processed into fish meal and fish oil are ingredients in fish feeds. Small pelagic fisheries are used in the fish meal and fish oil industry, but in some regions they are also important for direct human consumption. Also known as forage species, these are small, short-lived species that occupy a low trophic level (LTL) in the ecosystem. Due to their specific population biology and dynamics, these species are frequently resilient to fishing pressure if catches are well managed, but overfishing is always a possibility without effective controls. Through our Roadmap 2025, we strive to ensure that marine-based feed ingredients come from sustainable sources in the short- and long-term. The requirements aim to align industry incentives to support processes that will lead to improved fisheries management. 

Fish meal

Fish meal from whole fish certification status

	2023	2022	2021	2020
MSC approved	20.7 %	25.1 %	59.3 %	85.0 %
MarinTrust	28.4 %	55.9 %	35.5 %	14.0 %
Comp FIP	1.6 %	1.2 %	-	-
MT FIP	46.2 %	16.0 %	4.2 %	-
None*	3.0 %	1.7 %	0.9 %	1.0 %
Total	100 %	100 %	100 %	100 %

Fish meal from trimmings certification status

	2023	2022	2021	2020
MSC approved	38.5 %	31.0 %	56.0 %	70.0 %
MarinTrust	57.7 %	59.7 %	37.9 %	23.0 %
Comp FIP	0.0 %	-	-	-
MT FIP	1.4 %	4.6 %	-	-
None*	2.4 %	4.7 %	6.2 %	7.0 %
Total	100 %	100 %	100 %	100 %

In 2023 20.84 % of the fish meal came from trimmings. The rest. 79.16 %. came from whole fish. Click here for more information about the origin and use of whole fish and trimmings.
* The number for "None" is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

Fish oil

Fish oil from whole fish certification status

	2023	2022	2021	2020
MSC approved	34.3 %	48.7 %	43.9 %	41.0 %
MarinTrust	38.4 %	32.0 %	54.5 %	54.0 %
MSC ITM	0.7 %	-	-	-
Comp FIP	10.4 %	3.0 %	-	-
MT FIP	11.2 %	14.0 %	0.8 %	2.0 %
None*	5.1 %	3.3 %	0.8 %	3.0 %
Total	100 %	100 %	100 %	100 %

* The number for "None" is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

Fish oil from trimmings certification status

	2023	2022	2021	2020
MSC approved	24.2 %	41.1 %	54.6 %	53.0 %
MarinTrust	69.2 %	57.8 %	43.6 %	36.0 %
Comp FIP	1.2 %	-	-	-
MT FIP	3.4 %	-	-	-
None*	2.0 %	1.0 %	1.8 %	11.0 %
Total	100 %	100 %	100 %	100 %

In 2023 33.14 % of the fish oil came from trimmings. The rest. 66.86 %. came from whole fish. Click here for more information about the origin and use of whole fish and trimmings.
* The number for "None" is mainly due to trimmings and legal by-catch.

Use of wild fish for feed

Wild fish harvested from the ocean and processed into fish meal and fish oil are ingredients in fish feeds, and the Norwegian aquaculture industry has significantly reduced the inclusion rates of fish meal and fish oil from forage fish in fish feeds during the past two decades.

Fish meal and fish oil are both limited resources that are shared across a range of users with increasing demands including direct human consumption, aquaculture and pork and poultry production. We promote an efficient use of these resources, producing increasing amounts of farmed fish from a given input of fish meal and fish oil.

With the knowledge that we have at Skretting, salmon grower feeds can essentially require zero marine ingredients. This is possible due to more than 30 years of R&D at Skretting Aquaculture Innovation.

We will regularly update the industry with our use of wild fish used to produce 1 kg of feed, based on the average, weighted raw material composition. The use of wild fish is expressed as the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR). It will be calculated based on the use of fish meal and fish oil.

Fish meal FFDR: Use of wild fish in feed, Forage Fish Dependency Ratio for fish meal

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	Unit
Proportion fish meal from trimmings	20.8	32.8	20.5	13.7	21.7	22.0	% of total fish meal
Total fish meal	15.1	16.6	13.1	11.7	10.3	12.4	% of total feed
Minus fish meal from trimmings	3.2	5.4	2.7	1.6	2.2	2.7	% of total feed
Krill meal	0.3	0.0	0.0	-	-	-	% of total feed
Fish meal from whole fish	12.3	11.1	10.4	10.1	8.0	9.7	% of total feed
Fish meal from whole fish per kg feed	123	111	104	101	80	97	grams
Fish meal yield. standard number	24.0	24.0	24.0	23.0	23.0	23.0	% yield of fish meal*
FFDRm per kg feed	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	kg wild fish per kg feed

Fish oil FFDR: Use of wild fish in feed, Forage Fish Dependency Ratio for fish oil

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	Unit
Proportion fish oil from trimmings	33.1	39.3	31.5	16.6	12.0	26.0	% of total fish meal
Total fish oil	10.5	11.0	10.2	10.0	10.4	10.9	% of total feed
Minus fish oil from trimmings	3.5	4.3	3.2	1.7	1.2	2.8	% of total feed
Fish oil from whole fish	7.0	6.7	7.0	8.3	9.1	8.1	% of total feed
Fish oil from whole fish per kg feed	70	67	70	83	91	81	grams
Fish oil yield adjusted*	6.8	6.4	6.4	6.0	6.0	6.5	% yield of fish oil*
FFDRo per kg feed	1.0	1.0	1.1	1.4	1.5	1.2	kg wild fish per kg feed

* The yield is adjusted for geographical origin according to the ASC standard
** The yield refers to the amount of fish meal and fish oil one in average will get from processing 1 kg of wild fish, and are calculated according to the instructions given in the ASC salmon standard document v1.4 - February 2023. Typical figures from the industry refers to that one in average get 240 grams (24%) fish meal from processing 1 kg of wild fish and in average 50 grams to 70 grams of fish oil (depending on origin) from processing 1 kg of wild fish. The yield of fish oil will be variable – depending on species and season of the year.

Source and origin of marine raw materials

Small pelagic fisheries are used in the fish meal and fish oil industry, but in some regions they are also important for direct human consumption. Also known as forage species, these are small, short-lived species that occupy a low trophic level (LTL) in the ecosystem. Due to their specific population biology and dynamics, these species are frequently resilient to fishing pressure if catches are well managed, but overfishing is always a possibility without effective controls. Through our Roadmap 2025, we strive to ensure that marine-based feed ingredients come from sustainable sources in the short- and long-term. The requirements aim to align industry incentives to support processes that will lead to improved fisheries management.

All fish meal and fish oil we use from whole fish must originate from certified (MSC or MarinTrust) fisheries or fisheries subjected to a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP).

Origin of fish meal 2023 (whole fish and trimming)

Based on fish meal use in Skretting Norway 2023

FISH MEAL FROM WHOLE FISH
	Chile	Denmark	Faeroe Islands	Iceland	Ireland	Norway	Peru	Several	Total
Anchovy Engraulis ringens	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.4 %	-	3.4 %
Blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou	-	9.7 %	3.2 %	12.5 %	-	10.1 %	-	2.3 %	37.8 %
Boarfish Capros aper	-	0.1 %	-	-	1.3 %	0.2 %	-	0.1 %	1.7 %
Capelin Mallotus villosus	-	0.2 %	-	3.8 %	-	0.2 %	-	-	4.2 %
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	0.0 %	-	-	0.1 %
Herring Clupea harengus	-	0.6 %	-	0.5 %	-	1.2 %	-	-	2.3 %
Mackerel Scomber scombrus	0.0 %	0.7 %	-	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	0.8 %
North Sea Herring Clupea harengus	-	2.4 %	-	-	-	0.4 %	-	0.0 %	2.9 %
Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii	-	1.1 %	-	-	-	0.4 %	-	0.1 %	1.6 %
Peruvian anchoveta Engraulis ringens	1.0 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0 %
Sandeel Ammodytes spp	-	8.7 %	-	-	-	1.1 %	-	-	9.8 %
Sprat Sprattus sprattus	-	12.7 %	-	-	-	0.2 %	-	-	13.0 %
Other species	-	0.4 %	-	-	0.1 %	0.1 %	-	0.1 %	0.6 %
Total fish meal from whole fish	1.0 %	36.7 %	3.2 %	16.8 %	1.4 %	14.2 %	3.4 %	2.6 %	79.2 %
FISH MEAL FROM TRIMMINGS
	Chile	Denmark	Faeroe Islands	Iceland	Ireland	Norway	Peru	Several	Total
Blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou	-	0.0 %	-	-	0.7 %	0.1 %	-	-	0.8 %
Capelin Mallotus villosus	-	0.1 %	-	2.0 %	-	0.1 %	-	-	2.2 %
Cod Gadus morhua	-	1.3 %	-	-	-	0.0 %	-	-	1.3 %
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus	-	0.0 %	-	-	-	0.0 %	-	-	0.0 %
Herring Clupea harengus	-	1.1 %	0.8 %	3.0 %	-	2.3 %	-	-	7.2 %
Mackerel Scomber scombrus	-	0.7 %	-	4.4 %	0.3 %	1.0 %	-	0.0 %	6.5 %
North Sea Herring Clupea Harengus	-	0.4 %	-	-	-	1.4 %	-	0.0 %	1.9 %
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.1 %
Saithe Pollachius virens	-	0.0 %	-	-	-	0.0 %	-	-	0.0 %
Sprat Sprattus sprattus	-	0.1 %	-	-	0.2 %	0.1 %	-	-	0.5 %
Other species	-	0.2 %	-	-	0.1 %	0.1 %	-	0.0 %	0.4 %
Total fish meal from trimmings	0.0 %	4.1 %	0.8 %	9.5 %	1.2 %	5.1 %	0.0 %	0.1 %	20.8 %
	Chile	Denmark	Faeroe Islands	Iceland	Ireland	Norway	Peru	Several	Total
Total fish meal from whole fish & trimmings	1.0 %	40.8 %	4.0 %	26.3 %	2.6 %	19.2 %	3.4 %	2.6 %	100.0 %

Origin of fish oil 2023 (whole fish and trimming)

Based on fish oil use in Skretting Norway 2023

FISH OIL FROM WHOLE FISH
	Chile	Denmark	Iceland	Morocco	Norway	Panama	South Africa	United States	Total
Anchovy Engraulis ringens	0.5 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5 %
Araucanian Herring Strangomera bentincki	1.2 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.2 %
Baltic Sprat Sprattus sprattus	-	7.7 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.7 %
Blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou	-	1.9 %	1.3 %	-	4.8 %	-	-	-	7.9 %
Capelin Mallotus villosus	-	1.4 %	2.4 %	-	1.1 %	-	-	-	4.9 %
Greater Argentine Argentina silus	-	-	-	-	0.2 %	-	-	-	0.2 %
Gulf Menhaden Brevoortia patronus	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.6 %	1.6 %
Herring Clupea Harengus	-	6.6 %	2.0 %	-	6.7 %	-	-	-	15.3 %
Mackerel Scomber scombrus	-	0.7 %	-	-	0.7 %	-	-	-	1.4 %
Mote Sculpin Normanichthys crockeri	0.1 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.1 %
North sea Herring Clupea Harengus	-	0.8 %	-	-	1.1 %	-	-	-	1.9 %
Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii	-	0.8 %	-	-	1.0 %	-	-	-	1.9 %
Pacific Anchoveta Cetengraulis mysticetus	-	-	-	-	-	4.6 %	-	-	4.6 %
Red Eye Herring Etrumeus acuminatus	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.7 %	-	0.7 %
Sandeel Ammodytes spp	-	4.6 %	-	-	0.6 %	-	-	-	5.2 %
Sprat Sprattus sprattus	-	10.8 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	10.9 %
Other species	0.0 %	0.7 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	0.8 %
Total fish oil from whole fish	1.8 %	36.0 %	5.7 %	-	16.4 %	4.6 %	0.7 %	1.6 %	66.9 %
FISH OIL FROM TRIMMINGS
	Chile	Denmark	Iceland	Morocco	Norway	Panama	South Africa	United States	Total
Baltic Sprat, Sprattus sprattus	-	0.6 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.6 %
Beaked redfish, Sebastes mentella	-	0.1 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	0.1 %
Capelin, Mallotus villosus	-	0.2 %	0.8 %	-	0.5 %	-	-	-	1.6 %
Chub Mackerel, Scomber japonicus	0.0 %	-	-	0.0 %	-	-	-	-	0.1 %
Cod, Gadus morhua	-	0.9 %	-	-	0.5 %	-	-	-	1.3 %
European pilchard, Sardina pilchardus	-	-	-	0.4 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	0.5 %
Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus	-	0.0 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	0.1 %
Herring, Clupea Harengus	-	2.9 %	2.4 %	-	8.6 %	-	-	-	13.9 %
Jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus	1.4 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.4 %
Japanese pilchard, Sardina pilchardus	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.2 %	-	0.2 %
Mackerel, Scomber scombrus	-	2.1 %	7.6 %	-	0.8 %	-	-	-	10.6 %
North sea Herring, Clupea Harengus	-	0.1 %	-	-	1.8 %	-	-	-	2.0 %
Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.1 %
Pollock Gadus chalcogrammus	-	-	-	-	0.2 %	-	-	-	0.2 %
Sardine, Sardina pilchardus	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.1 %	-	0.1 %
Sprat, Sprattus sprattus	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.1 %
Other species	-	0.3 %	-	-	0.1 %	-	-	-	0.4 %
Total fish oil from trimmings	1.4 %	7.4 %	10.9 %	0.4 %	12.6 %	0.0 %	0.5 %	0.0 %	33.1 %
	Chile	Denmark	Iceland	Morocco	Norway	Panama	South Africa	United States	Total
Total fish oil from whole fish & trimmings	3.2 %	43.4 %	16.6 %	0.4 %	29.0 %	4.6 %	1.2 %	1.6 %	100.0 %

Origin of fish meal and fish oil from farmed fish

Species	Latin name	Fish meal	Fish oil	Country of origin
Farmed salmon*	Salmo salar	-	>99 %	Norway
Farmed trout*	Oncorhynchus mykiss	-	<1 %	Norway

* Fish oil from farmed fish is only included in customer specific feeds.

Facts about salmon oil
Skretting has extensive experience with the use of salmon oil in salmon feed. It is a welcomed supplement of omega-3 and it is an excellent raw material for an expanding circular economy where we utilize our resources in the best possible way. There are some scepticisms to give salmon oil to salmon, but because oil consists of fat and not protein — and protein is the carrier of DNA — it is safe and to use when following EU regulations. For more information about salmon oil, scientific studies and experience click here.