Maximising sustainable nutrient production from coupled fisheries-aquaculture systems (University of Cambridge et al.)

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Author summary

In this paper we demonstrate that marine-fed farmed salmon is an inefficient way to produce nutritious seafood, and that directing wild-caught 'feed' fish towards human consumption could maximise nutrient production while also relieving pressure on fisheries stocks. Substantial growth in aquaculture is required to sustain growing global demand for animal-source foods, with potential for the sector to provide all 177 million tonnes of additional animal-source food needed worldwide by 2050. Currently, Atlantic salmon production uses 60% of global supplies of fish oil and 23% of fishmeal destined for aquaculture. Yet salmon production only makes up 4.5% of global aquaculture, and feed reduction processes result in lost potential production of food volume and essential micronutrients. We quantify the volume of micronutrients and wild fish retained by marine-fed farmed salmon, using data on Scotland's farmed salmon production and nutrient concentrations in wild-caught feed fish. We then develop alternative seafood production scenarios that minimise marine feeds to assess the potential sustainability benefits of maximising micronutrient production in coupled fisheries-aquaculture systems, in the UK and worldwide.