A peer-reviewed study by researchers from the University of Porto, CIIMAR, and the University of Florence, in collaboration with EPAX®, found that fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) oil — a byproduct of omega-3 supplement production — can completely replace fish oil in juvenile European seabass diets without impairing growth, feed utilization, or nutrient digestibility. However, the substitution significantly reduced muscle DHA levels, pointing to a potential nutritional quality trade-off that may require mitigation.
A European Commission study completed in June 2026 estimates that feed demand for ten key farmed species in the EU grew from under 900,000 tonnes in 2013 to almost 1.1 million tonnes in 2023. The report identifies plant ingredients as now comprising the majority of material demand, while highlighting cost, scalability and regulatory hurdles facing alternative proteins and oils.
The Philippines is exploring a more diversified aquafeed ingredient base as El Niño, global supply disruptions, and import dependence increase pressure on conventional feed sources, according to Ateneo de Manila University associate professor Janice A. Ragaza.
A European Commission study completed in June 2026 estimates that feed demand for ten key farmed species in the EU grew from under 900,000 tonnes in 2013 to almost 1.1 million tonnes in 2023, while identifying plant ingredients, cost, regulation and supply-chain exposure as central challenges for the sector's future.
US poultry by-product meal prices climbed close to all-time highs in early September 2026, rising 18.7% in a month as constrained global fishmeal availability pushed aquafeed formulators toward alternative proteins. Both IFFO and the FAO flagged continued tightness in fishmeal markets, driven by lower fishing quotas in South America and sustained aquaculture demand in China.
