Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture: practices, sustainability and implications

176 Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture – Practices, sustainability and implications

to Shepherd (2005) 14 percent of

the total global production of fish

oils in 2002 was used for edible

purposes. However, no precise

official statistical information exists

concerning the use of fish oils for

human consumption within the

Americas.

Fish oils may also be used for

specific technical applications, such

as in the manufacture of quick-

drying oils and varnishes, as fatty

acid precursors for the preparation

of metallic soaps used in lubricating

greases or as water-proofing agents

(FAO, 1986; Bimbo and Crowther,

1992).

3. 4 Trash fish and other miscellaneous non-food uses of fishery products
   In addition to the targeted reduction of fish and shellfish species into fishmeal and fish
   oil, other non-food uses of fishery
   products include: 1) the use of
   fish as a direct aquaculture feed or
   within farm-made aquafeeds, 2) the
   use of fish and shellfish species as
   fishing bait for commercial fishing
   or for sport fisheries, 3) the use and
   capture of wild-caught brood fish
   and shellfish and larvae, and 4) the
   direct production and sale of wild-
   caught and/or cultured freshwater
   and marine ornamental fish and
   shellfish species for hobbyists.
   Low-value trash fish species
   may be used as aquaculture feed,
   either directly in fresh or frozen
   form as a complete natural grow-
   out/fattening diet in the case of
   tuna or fresh/frozen squid for
   shrimp maturation, or indirectly, in
   processed form within farm-made
   aquafeeds (Allan, 2004; Edwards,
   Tuan and Allan, 2004; Ottolenghi
   et al., 2004; Funge-Smith, Lindebo
   and Staples, 2005; Tacon, Hasan and
   Subasinghe, 2006). As mentioned
   previously, there are no official
   estimates concerning the amount
   of trash fish used in aquaculture
   (either alone or incorporated into
   farm-made aquafeeds) within the
   Americas (Flores-Nava, 2007),
   other than a total estimated

FIGURE 32

Ecuador: fishmeal balance sheet

Source: FAO (2006a), except 2005 data from Mittaine (2006)

FIGURE 33

Ecuador: fish oil balance sheet

Source: FAO (2006a), except 2005 data from Mittaine (2006)

FIGURE 31

Brazil: fish oil balance sheet

Source: FAO (2006a), except 2005 data from Mittaine (2006)